A man has been convicted of the 2009 murder of Jean Hanlon, a 53-year-old British woman who was found dead in a harbour in Crete, Greece. However, despite being sentenced to 10 years in prison, the killer remains free, having launched an appeal that will keep him out of custody until it is heard.
Jean Hanlon had made a new life for herself in Crete, working as a secretary at a local tour operator and later independently in tavernas. She had moved to the island full-time in 2003, after falling in love with the place on a holiday in 2000. By 2008, she had settled in the seaside town of Kato Gouves and was living a happy life, surrounded by new friends. However, on March 6, 2009, she last spoke to her son Michael, telling him she seemed happy and there was nothing untoward.
Michael's world was turned upside down three days later when he received a call from a brother saying their mother had gone missing. The family knew instinctively that something terrible had happened, and their worst fears were confirmed when they learned that Jean's body had been recovered from Heraklion harbour. The police initially ruled her death as a tragic accident, declaring that she had drowned, likely under the influence of alcohol. However, the family refused to believe this, pointing out the severe injuries she had sustained, including a broken neck and shattered coccyx. They also produced diary entries in which Jean spoke of being stalked and harassed by a former lover.
The Greek police were accused of not taking the case seriously, and the family continued to campaign for justice throughout the years. It took 17 years for the police to make an arrest and bring charges, and earlier this month, a man was found guilty of Jean's murder at the Lasithi Law Courts in Neapoli. The conviction was a major victory for the family, who had felt that Jean's death had been swept under the carpet by the authorities. However, the fact that the killer remains free, pending the outcome of his appeal, is a bitter pill to swallow.
The case has taken a toll on Michael, who has become the public face of the family's campaign for justice. He is clearly tired, but his determination to see justice served remains unwavering. As he said in an interview, "Seeing him walk out of court with his hands in his pockets, not cuffed behind his back, made me furious." The family will now have to wait for the outcome of the appeal, which will determine when the killer will finally be brought to justice.
Source: Daily Mail
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