Paphos District Court to sentence father for toddler's death in Chloraka

The Paphos District Court is scheduled to announce its sentencing today for a 37-year-old British father following the death of his three-year-old son in a hotel in Chloraka earlier this summer. The man previously pleaded guilty to the charge of causing death through a reckless, rash, or dangerous act, an offense that carries a maximum penalty of four years in prison or a financial fine.

The case has centered on the circumstances of the incident, where the child fell after being placed near a window by his father while waiting for an elevator. The prosecution, led by Chryso Perganti, highlighted forensic findings indicating the father had 124 mg of alcohol in his system at the time of the event, despite an initial test showing only 34 mg. Conversely, the defense lawyer, Alexandros Alexandrou, argued that the incident was a momentary lapse in judgment occurring in a split second. He maintained there was no evidence that alcohol affected the defendant’s behavior and requested leniency, citing the father's clean criminal record, professional background, and the irreparable loss of his child as significant mitigating factors.

The court concluded the mitigation proceedings on October 6 and reserved its final decision for today's hearing. The judge is expected to weigh the arguments presented by both sides against previous judicial precedents to determine the final sentence.