British father pleads guilty over toddler's death in Paphos

A 37-year-old British man appeared before the Paphos district court on September 22, 2026, where he pleaded guilty to causing the death of his three-year-old son due to a rash or negligent act. The tragic incident occurred on July 12, 2026, when the child fell from a fourth-floor window of a hotel in Chlorakas, Paphos, just one day after the family arrived in Cyprus for a vacation.

Prior to his plea, the defense had requested a suspension of the criminal prosecution on humanitarian grounds, a plea that was rejected by the Attorney-General of the Republic of Cyprus on the basis of public interest. The father, who had previously been permitted to travel to the UK for his son's funeral, remains free under restrictive conditions, including a financial guarantee. The court has scheduled the next hearing for October 5, 2026, to present the facts of the case and proceed with mitigation and sentencing arguments. Another separate case involving the deaths of two Bulgarian boys in Xylofagou remains under judicial review at the Sovereign Base Areas court, where a bail appeal for their father is currently awaiting a decision.