A British father has been charged with causing the death of his two-year-old son after allegedly dropping him from a hotel window in Cyprus. The 37-year-old banker was arrested shortly after the incident at the King Evelthon Beach Hotel and Resort in Chlorakas, near Paphos, on Sunday.
Incident details
According to the court hearing last week, the father was waiting for a lift with the boy's grandfather. He was holding the child by the waist and swinging him from side to side when the boy fell from his arms and through a window. The toddler was rushed to hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.
Toxicology reports revealed a very small quantity of alcohol in the man's blood, equivalent to one or two drinks. The court will determine whether this is relevant to the case.
Legal proceedings
Attorney General George Savvides decided to press charges for 'causing death by a rash, reckless, or dangerous act or conduct not amounting to culpable negligence.' If convicted, the father could face up to four years in prison.
A spokesperson for the Attorney General told the Daily Mail: 'The Attorney General ordered criminal prosecution of the father. He will be charged with causing death due to recklessness, among other things. The father will be released, yet he will be subject to strict restrictive conditions, which will aim to ensure his presence at all future hearings.'
Family impact
The father appeared emotional in the dock, accompanied by his parents, who paid €20,000 (£17,000) for his release. He was expected to be released on Wednesday but this was blocked at the last minute, forcing him to inform his five-year-old daughter of her younger brother's death via FaceTime.
A relative told the Daily Mail: 'He was a truly special, easy-going little boy who brought so much joy to everyone around him. He was deeply adored, and his infectious smile, warm cuddles and kind heart are already so deeply missed and always will be.'
Under the release conditions, the father must provide his address, report to Paphos Police Station once a week, and hand over all contact details.
