A Greek court ruled John Hogan was incapable of deliberately killing Liam after the 33-year-old, from Bristol, said he was a "beautiful" father and "felt no guilt" about their 50ft plunge from a Crete hotel balcony.

Hogan, who hurled Liam from the fourth floor room before jumping himself with his two-year-old daughter Mia, will receive psychiatric treatment in Athens while his eventual fate is decided.

His ex-wife Natasha, who was in court, condemned the judging panel's decision and said what Hogan had done was "unforgivable".

The 35-year-old nurse, who now lives with her new husband Richard Visser in Newport, Gwent, said the trial had been an ordeal. She was rushed out of court in tears after the verdict was interpreted to her.

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

"I accept that an act in a moment of complete madness was uncharacteristic of John but to have done this to our children was unforgivable.

"I know that we all miss Liam but it is Mia and I that are left to rebuild our lives without a loving, caring son and brother."

Liam died of head injuries but Hogan and Mia survived with broken limbs following the plunge on August 15 2006.

Clearing him of murder and attempted murder after a two-day hearing, Paraskeri Kiraleou, the senior judge at the trial, said: "His responsibility was diminished. He was incapable of murdering his son and he needs to be in a psychiatric unit for therapy."