The best friend of a woman found dead in Greece fears police will never find out how she died.
Peter Verschueren said detectives shelving the latest probe into Jean Hanlon’s death is a “very bad situation”.
Expat Jean, 53, was found in a Crete harbour in March 2009.
Police closed the case, describing it as an accidental drowning despite her suffering broken ribs, a punctured lung and face injuries.
However, the mum’s friends and family – who have always insisted she was unlawfully killed – were given fresh hope when a new investigation was launched.
Now Peter, who was interviewed by officers during the original inquiry, believes they’ll never get the truth.
The Belgian said: “The more time passes, the more difficult it will be to find out what really happened to Jean.
“It’s a very bad situation. I miss Jean – it’s very sad.
“But if the police can’t find any information, then what can we do?”
Jean spoke to Peter on the phone to say she was in a bar with a Greek man four days before her body was found in Heraklion harbour.
Minutes later, she sent him a text message saying: “Help.”
Channel 5 documentary Murdered In Paradise: The Killing of Jean Hanlon led to her case being reopened by detectives last year.
But last month, the family were contacted by the Ministry of Justice in Greece to say the inquiry was being wound down after no new evidence emerged.
Peter, 57, who still lives on the island, said the man Jean was with before her death is “key” to finding out what happened to her.
He said: “The guy that she was with, he has to talk. He can give that important information.
“Maybe he has died or maybe he knows if he comes forward he will be a suspect and is afraid. Maybe he isn’t a suspect but cannot prove it or maybe it was an accident.
“This man is the key.”
Earlier this month, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) wrote to the Greek authorities at the family’s request to express their continued interest in the case and urged police to continue their investigation. They are yet to receive an official response.
Jean’s son Michael Porter, 35, of Dumfries, said: “I contacted the Foreign Office and they sent a letter to the Ministry of Justice in Greece to ask them to keep investigating.
“Sadly, we have been informed by the Greek authorities that, although the case is not closed, they’re no longer actively investigating.
“It’s truly heartbreaking.”
An FCO spokeswoman said: “Our thoughts remain with the family of Jean Hanlon following her death in Greece in 2009 and we continue to do everything we can to support them.
“While the case is entirely a matter for Greek authorities, our ambassador most recently raised our interest in the investigation with them in July.”
Solicitor Apostolos Xiritakis, who is acting for the family, said: “The Greek authorities do not have other things to investigate for now.
“But if new information comes up, the investigation will start again to search whatever is necessary in order to find what happened to Jean Hanlon.”
The Ministry of Justice in Greece did not respond to our request for comment.
