Man denies murder of Scottish woman on Greek island in 2009

A man has denied murdering a Scottish woman on a Greek island 17 years ago.

The body of Jean Hanlon, 53, was recovered from the water off Heraklion in Crete in 2009.

Her death was initially ruled as accidental but her family, from Dumfries, have campaigned for the case to be reopened.

Jean's three sons gave evidence at the start of the trial on Tuesday, where one claimed she had been "bullied" by the man after ending their relationship.

The Greek man on trial cannot be named under the country's laws, which grants anonymity to those accused until a conviction is confirmed.

Her sons told the court about a diary their mum kept in which the accused was named.

The court heard they had been involved in a relationship, but Jean had "politely" ended it.

One of her sons, Robert, said the defendant continued to bully his mum despite what he described as a polite separation.

The trial also heard from a forensic pathologist who became involved in the case following a review in 2019.

She had not directly examined Jean, but said her cause of death was likely caused by an incomplete tear of the brain stem.

The pathologist told the court the fatal injury was caused by a forceful blow to the back of the neck with a blunt object adding that her injuries weren't consistent with a fall.

The trial - which is being heard in Neapoli, about 30 miles (49km) from Heraklion - is expected to last up to four days.

Jean had been living in Kato Gouves, a village about 12 miles (19km) from Heraklion, for a number of years at the time of her death.

She worked in several local bars and tavernas.

Her body was discovered on 13 March 2009, four days after she was reported missing.

The accused was questioned in January last year and was charged in November.

An initial post-mortem examination determined Jean had drowned, but a re-examination in 2019 later suggested injuries consistent with a struggle.

A fresh appeal on the Greek equivalent of Crimewatch in 2020 also failed to yield any new information.

In 2021, specialist officers working as part of a unit investigating organised crime also investigated to no avail, though did rule it was "foul play".

The investigation was officially reopened in June 2024 after a private investigator hired by her son passed a 24-page report to Greek authorities.