British father pleads guilty to causing death of toddler son in fatal hotel fall

A British man has pleaded guilty to death by recklessness after his two-year-old fatally fell from a fourth-floor hotel window in July.

The 37-year-old and his family were reportedly just a few days into a holiday in the Cypriot resort town of Paphos when the boy fell from a fourth-floor hotel window.

On Tuesday, the father entered a guilty plea before Paphos district court to causing death by a rash or negligent act. The circumstances of the fall remain unclear.

Sentencing is expected early on October 5. The offence carries a maximum sentence of four years in prison, according to defence lawyer Alexandros Alexandrou.

Speaking outside court, Mr Alexandrou said his client had decided to plead guilty after taking time to understand the Cyprus legal process and what a trial would entail for him and his family.

“I explained to him that if he pleads not guilty, that means he will go into a hearing,” Mr Alexandrou said.

“He will be called to see pictures and evidence. It will be disturbing for him, for his family,” the lawyer added.

The man, who has not been named, had appeared in court in Paphos on July 31 and was allowed to leave Cyprus to return to the UK for his son’s funeral.

The defendant was arrested and charged, but a court later released him from custody on the condition that he surrender his passport, report to a police station weekly and pay a €20,000 (around £17,100) bond.

Speaking at the time, his lawyer, Alexandros Alexandrou, said: “Clearly this is tragic, it’s a case where anyone, whether they’re a parent or not, can understand the stress of having lost a child.”

“Right now, the only issue before the court is for the petition on this humanitarian aspect of the case to be approved so that he can travel for his son’s funeral.”