A British father has been fined €3,000 in connection with the death of his three-year-old son, who fell from a hotel window in Chloraka.
Paphos District Court imposed the sentence on Friday, 16 October, describing the circumstances as a “momentary lapse” rather than a deliberate act.
The 37-year-old was released following sentencing. The remaining balance of bail money paid during the proceedings is expected to be returned.
According to the Cyprus News Agency, the judge acknowledged the gravity of the child’s death and said the tragedy would remain with the father for the rest of his life.
Defence lawyer Alexandros Alexandrou said the court had accepted his argument that the incident involved a momentary error of judgement, rather than gross negligence or indifference to the child’s safety.
He described the fine as the lowest available under the Criminal Code for the offence and said it reflected what the defence considered a minimal degree of culpability.
Alexandrou also criticised the decision to pursue the prosecution, saying a defence request to suspend proceedings had been rejected.
He said the three months of proceedings had taken time the father could otherwise have spent with his family while grieving.
Speaking after the hearing, the father thanked his lawyer for his support and said he was looking forward to returning home with his wife and daughter.
Source: Cyprus News Agency (CNA)