A court in Greece has rejected an appeal for the release of a British man who killed his son when he plunged from a hotel balcony with his two children on the island of Crete two years ago, his lawyer said today.

John Hogan from Bristol was cleared of murdering his six-year-old son Liam by a Greek court earlier this year, but ordered to be kept under psychiatric treatment. Mr Hogan jumped with Liam and his sister Mia, 2, from a balcony in the Cretan resort of Ierapetra during a family holiday in August 2006.

"Our request was rejected and it broke our heart. He will remain in the psychological clinic for the time being and not be released," Dimitris Xyritakis, his lawyer, said. "In a few months' time, we are going to try again."

Mr Hogan had hoped to return to Britain, where a court ruled last month he had the right to appeal against a British inquest verdict that Liam's death was an unlawful killing.

The court which acquitted Mr Hogan of murder in January was told he had gone on holiday to Crete in a bid to save his failing marriage, and jumped from the balcony with his children shortly before the family was due to return home.

His lawyer said Mr Hogan's mental health would be tested periodically for any sign of progress. His doctor was not immediately available for comment.