British father whose two-year-old son fell to his death from hotel window is ‘in a very bad emotional condition’ lawyer says as he returns to UK for funeral
A 37-year-old British banker charged over the death of his two-year-old son at a hotel in Cyprus has been allowed to return to the UK for the boy's funeral after his lawyer said he was in a "very bad emotional condition". The child fell 33ft from a fourth-floor window at the King Evelthon Hotel near Paphos in July, and his father, who had been required to remain on the island, was granted a one-month exemption on humanitarian grounds so he could rejoin his wife and five-year-old daughter, who had already returned home with the boy's body.
The father faces a charge of causing death by "a rash, reckless, or dangerous act", which carries a maximum four-year sentence, and must return to Cyprus by 14 September under bail conditions that include an additional €10,000 payment on top of €20,000 already paid. He maintains he briefly placed his son on the windowsill believing it was closed, whereas prosecutors allege he had been swinging the boy and note he had a small amount of alcohol in his blood; Cypriot law does not require windows above 1.1 metres to be kept shut. Court proceedings have been adjourned until 17 September, when he is expected to enter a plea.
- British father allowed home to UK for son's funeral amid case
- Two-year-old fell from Cyprus hotel window last month, died
- Father faces charge carrying up to four years, must return by 14 September
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The father's version presents this as a tragic accident. He maintains he placed his son on the windowsill believing it was closed, and the small amount of alcohol in his system is not indicative of serious impairment or negligent behaviour. Importantly, Cypriot law itself does not require windows above 1.1 metres to be kept shut, suggesting such heights are not considered inherently unsafe. A bereaved parent facing such a devastating loss deserves humanitarian compassion and the opportunity to grieve with family.
The case against
The prosecution's case indicates reckless endangerment of a vulnerable child. Allegations that the father was swinging his young son near an open window, combined with measurable alcohol in his system, demonstrate dangerous conduct. Even setting aside the swinging claim, placing a toddler on a fourth-floor windowsill shows gravely poor judgment about child safety. The fatal outcome was a foreseeable consequence of such negligence, justifying the serious charge of causing death through rash, reckless, or dangerous conduct.