Paphos court reserves sentencing for British father in toddler's death

The Paphos District Court has reserved its sentencing decision for a 37-year-old British man who pleaded guilty to causing the death of his three-year-old son by a rash or negligent act. The child died on July 12, 2026, after falling from a fourth-floor hotel window in Chlorakas on the first day of the family's holiday in Cyprus. During the mitigation proceedings, the prosecution stated that blood tests taken at the time revealed the father had 124 mg of alcohol in his system, a finding contested by the defence, which argued the reading was a mathematical estimate and did not prove impairment. The defence lawyer, Alexandros Alexandrou, presented evidence regarding the father’s personal and employment circumstances, describing the incident as a brief moment of inattention.

Legal proceedings had previously faced delays, including the rejection of an earlier request by the defence to suspend the prosecution on humanitarian grounds. The court proceedings concluded on October 6, 2026, following the submission of mitigation pleas from the defence and the prosecution's presentation of facts. The judge is scheduled to deliver the sentence on October 16, 2026, at 11:00 am. Until that date, the defendant remains at liberty under previously imposed restrictive conditions.