The man who hurled himself and his children off a hotel balcony in Crete, killing his son Liam, was today found not guilty of murder because he was deemed too psychologically unwell.

John Hogan, who remains on medication for his mental health problems, was sent to a psychiatric unit after his crime was found under local law to be "unpunishable" due to his mental state.

The jury of three men and a woman deliberated for just 40 minutes before reaching their verdict. Mr Hogan had denied charges of murder and attempted murder.

"His responsibility was diminished. He was incapable of murdering his son and he needs to be in a psychiatric unit for therapy," said President Paraskeri Kiraleou, who led the panel of three judges.

When the decision was announced, Mr Hogan broke down in tears and was heard to say: 'I'm innocent."

Meanwhile, at the other end of the court in the public gallery, his ex-wife Natasha wept and was comforted by Avon and Somerset Police liaison officers who had accompanied her on her trip to Crete.

Mr Hogan will begin to receive treatment in Athens, Greece, while the British and Greek authorities discuss his psychological care. He may then be allowed to return to the UK.

After the announcement was made, Dimitris Xiritakis, his lawyer, told reporters: "It is the right verdict. John Hogan is very happy with the verdict." Mr Xiritakis added: "Now they (his Greek carers) know him, he will remain in Athens while they discuss what to do. They cannot send him to prison."

However Mrs Hogan, who has since divorced her husband, condemned the decision, saying that her son had "lost his young life for nothing".

In a statement read out on her behalf, Mrs Hogan, 35, a nurse who now lives in Newport, Gwent, said: "I have done my best to provide a balanced view of John and our life together so that the Greek court is aware of the troubled times in both John’s life and our relationship together.

"This result, albeit somewhat unexpected, has left me feeling that Liam lost his young life for nothing."

Earlier, Mr Hogan gave his first ever public account of what happened when he jumped from the balcony two years ago. He sobbed throughout his testimony and repeatedly mumbled the word 'Sorry'.

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