A British father, whose son died after falling from a hotel window in Cyprus, appeared before Paphos District Court on Tuesday as his case was adjourned. The 37-year-old, who works for a major accountancy firm, attended the hearing with his parents, one day after what would have been his son's third birthday.

The man was arrested on July 12, hours after his son plunged from a fourth-floor window, on suspicion of causing death through negligence, reckless and dangerous actions. Prosecutors acknowledged the family's suffering, stating, "The state must adhere to the law." The father did not enter a plea, and proceedings were postponed for a week at the request of his lawyer, Alexandros Alexandrou, who sought more time.

Alexandrou expressed his client's disappointment after the Cyprus attorney general, George Savvides, rejected an appeal to drop the case on humanitarian grounds. The lawyer had argued that continuing the prosecution served no public interest and would only exacerbate the family's trauma.

According to reports, the father had placed his son on a windowsill while waiting for a lift, believing the window was closed. The toddler fell approximately 33 feet and was pronounced dead upon arrival at Paphos General Hospital. The father was initially held in custody for eight days before being charged. He was subsequently granted bail totaling $30,000 (£25,750) and was prohibited from leaving Cyprus, though this restriction was temporarily lifted to allow him to attend his son's burial.

Toxicology reports indicated a small amount of alcohol in the father's blood, equivalent to one or two drinks. He faces a potential prison sentence of up to four years if convicted. His lawyer stated that the father is struggling to cope and is concerned about his surviving five-year-old daughter, who needs him.

The incident occurred at the five-star King Evelthon Hotel near Paphos. Reports from the scene indicated that the window from which the child fell remained open. British health and safety guidelines suggest that windows large enough for children to fall through should be restricted to an opening of no more than 10 centimeters. Cypriot regulations require only a ledge of at least 1.1 meters, a standard the hotel meets.

The hotel's safety record has drawn scrutiny, as this is the third death of a British tourist at the resort in four years. In July 2022, 21-year-old Ben Woods drowned while playing volleyball, and in the following year, six-year-old Ruaridh Nairne also drowned. Another woman reportedly died at the hotel in 2024.

A further plea hearing has been scheduled for Tuesday, August 22, and the father is expected to remain in Cyprus until then.