Europeupdated 52m ago2 min read
Essex Dad Joshua Foster Fined €3,000 After Son Fell From Cyprus Hotel Window
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Joshua Foster, 37, from Essex, fined €3,000 for causing his son's death in Cyprus. Incident occurred July 12 at King Evelthon Beach Hotel, Chlorakas, Cyprus.
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Cyprus hotel fall
Joshua Foster, a 37-year-old auditor from Essex, was fined €3,000 (£2,500) by Paphos District Court after his two-year-old son fell from a fourth-floor window at the five-star King Evelthon Beach Hotel and Resort in Chlorakas, Cyprus.
The court heard the toddler fell nearly 40ft (12.1m) on 12 July, the first day of the family holiday, and the boy was pronounced dead at Paphos General Hospital after police were called to reports of a child falling at about 18:40.
Foster told reporters afterwards, "Thank you for the support. I'm looking forward to going home and being with my wife and daughter."
Foster’s lawyer Alexandros Alexandrou said Foster’s life "changed forever" from the moment the boy noticed a waterpark outside and Foster placed him on the windowsill.
Court details and alcohol
Prosecutor Chryso Pergandi told the court that police received reports of the fall at around 6.40pm, and the court heard Foster had not realised the window was open and believed there was a pane of protective glass. A blood sample taken from Foster after the incident showed an estimated alcohol concentration of 124mg, but Foster’s lawyer said there was no evidence he was intoxicated and that alcohol did not form a significant part of the case against him.
Foster admitted causing death through a reckless, rash or dangerous act, and the court heard the window was 2.85m (9.3ft) wide and 1.2m (3.9ft) high. Foster was held in custody for eight days immediately after the incident, and Alexandrou said Foster had to call his daughter from custody to explain what had happened.
After sentencing
Foster held back tears as the sentence was read out by district judge Froso Christodoulidou, and he hugged his lawyer before embracing his parents after the 25-minute hearing. Foster told reporters outside court, "I'm looking forward to going home and being with my wife and daughter," and Sky News said he would return to the UK "to grieve properly".
Alexandrou described Foster as an "incredible father" and said Foster was "very emotional" after the sentencing and that the family needed time to grieve properly. The court heard Foster had no previous convictions and his remorse "is clear," while Alexandrou said the family had been in a defence mode during the procedure.