The son of Scottish woman Jean Hanlon, who was murdered in Crete 17 years ago, says the fact her killer is still free pending an appeal is “infuriating” to her family.
The body of the mum-of-three, from Dumfries, was discovered in 2009 in the sea off Heraklion.
The 53-year-old’s death was initially considered to be an accident and police did not open a murder investigation until a year later.
Her family launched a long-running campaign for justice and, on Friday, her killer was finally convicted after 17 years.
The man in his 50s, who cannot be named under Greek law, was sentenced to 10 years in prison, though the Greek legal system means he will not go to jail until his appeal has been exhausted.
The court recognised the guilty man’s diminished responsibility due to his mental state.
Ms Hanlon’s son, Michael Porter, spoke to BBC Breakfast about the trial.
He said it was “phenomenal and overwhelming and unbelievable” to finally see the man convicted, adding: “To campaign and work so hard for 17 years, and then finally be vindicated – and to hear mum’s voice being heard across the courtroom by a room of strangers – was just the vindication we needed.”
During the family’s campaign, which involved his brothers Robert and David, they hired a private investigator to try and uncover the truth about what happened.
Ms Hanlon had gone to a marina cafe with the man who has now been convicted of her murder, the court in Crete was told, and she had sent text messages to friends saying she did not want to stay there with him.
Michael Porter said it is now clear the original investigation was not carried out properly.
He said the family are “extremely grateful” about the conviction, but nevertheless are frustrated that their mother’s killer is still free.
Michael said: “Then to see him walk out of the courtroom free was just – it’s unimaginable. It’s so infuriating.
“You’ve just convicted a murderer and you’ve allowed him to go back on the streets.
“Obviously, through diminished responsibility, because of his mental health state.
“But he made choices to not tell our mum about his illness, to not take his medication, knowing that the repercussions of that were going to be extremely dangerous and were dangerous.”
Michael said he respected the Greek system but the killer’s freedom still felt like “a massive blow to the stomach” and they have been left in “limbo” until the appeal process is complete.
Speaking to Press Association later, Michael said he and his brothers found the situation “ludicrous”.
He said: “Obviously we respect he has the right to appeal.
“We understand that, but he should be waiting for his appeal (behind) bars.
“Why are we the ones that are having to be punished again, to wait?”
If the case had continued unsolved for another three years, Michael said, it would have been considered expired under Greek law as more than 20 years would have passed.
He said many people across Greece had been supportive of their fight for justice, saying: “They’re all echoing the same thing, they can’t believe how much passion and fight we have for our mum, and how disgusting it is that the Greek system has failed.”
The three brothers will shortly return to the UK, having travelled to Crete for the trial.
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