€3,000 fine, no prison: British father Joshua Foster avoids jail after causing son's fatal fall
Sentence handed down in Paphos
Foster appeared at Paphos District Court on Friday and received a €3,000 fine, equivalent to £2,500. District Judge Froso Christodoulidou read out the sentence during a 25-minute hearing.
The 37-year-old senior accountant at KPMG had pleaded guilty to causing death through a reckless, rash or dangerous act. After the hearing, he hugged his lawyer and embraced his parents.
How the child fell
The family had arrived in Cyprus in the early hours of that day and returned to their rooms after spending time doing activities. At around 6pm, Foster, his father-in-law and his son walked towards an elevator.
Court hears account of incident
Foster’s lawyer, Alexandros Alexandrou, said the child noticed a waterpark outside as they approached the lift. The court heard that Foster pressed the elevator button and placed his son on the windowsill, believing the window was closed, to show him the view.
The court was told the boy looked outside and fell before Foster could react. Alexandrou said the moment would remain with his client, and argued that Foster’s remorse was clear and that he had no previous convictions.
Key points
- Foster was fined €3,000 after pleading guilty to causing death through a reckless, rash or dangerous act.
- His two-year-old son fell from a fourth-floor hotel window in Chlorakas on 12 July and died in hospital.
- The court heard Foster believed the window was closed when he placed the child on the sill.
- Foster’s lawyer said he had no previous convictions and had spent eight days in custody.