A 37-year-old British man facing a criminal charge over the death of his three-year-old son at a hotel in Cyprus is expected to appear before the Paphos District Court on Thursday.
The hearing comes as the defence awaits a decision from Cyprus’ attorney-general on its request for the prosecution to be discontinued.
The father returned to Cyprus on Monday and handed his travel documents back to the authorities, complying with conditions imposed when the court previously allowed him to travel to the United Kingdom to attend his son’s funeral.
His lawyer, Alexandros Alexandrou, said on Monday that no response had yet been received regarding the request to halt the prosecution.
“If there is no response by the 17th, then we will answer to the charges,” Alexandrou said.
The man is facing a charge of causing death by recklessness following the death of his son on July 12. The child fell from a fourth-floor window at a hotel in Chlorakas, Paphos, on the first day of the family’s holiday.
Investigation Into Hotel Fall
Previous court proceedings heard that the father had been holding and playing with the child while the family was outside the hotel.
Investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding the fall, including whether a section of a nearby window had been left open without the father’s knowledge.
The investigation is also considering whether the boy slipped from his father’s arms and went through the opening.
The circumstances remain subject to the legal proceedings, and the charge against the father has not been determined by the court.
Travel Conditions Reinstated
On August 3, the court permitted the father to travel to the UK for the funeral after he provided an additional €10,000 cash guarantee.
His earlier bail conditions, including a €20,000 financial guarantee, the surrender of his travel documents and weekly reporting to Paphos police, were reinstated after he returned to Cyprus.
Thursday’s hearing is expected to determine the next procedural step, depending on whether the attorney-general has responded to the defence request.
If the father enters a guilty plea, the case is expected to proceed towards sentencing. Should he plead not guilty, the court is expected to schedule the matter for trial.
