**Title: Stylianos’ Behaviour Reflected Violence at Home, Court Hears**
In a Nicosia district court on Monday, the tragic case of Stylianos Constantinou, a 14-year-old boy who took his own life in 2019, continued to unfold as defence attorneys interrogated a nursery schoolteacher who had supervised him during the 2009-2010 school year. The proceedings focus on allegations of abuse and neglect within Stylianos’ family and whether state services adequately addressed warning signs leading up to his suicide.
The teacher, who had been called as a witness, faced rigorous questioning from the defence team representing Stylianos’ mother, one of the defendants in the case. The defence attorney highlighted the mother’s struggle with bipolar disorder, inquiring if the teacher had observed any signs of similar issues in Stylianos when he was just five years old. The teacher responded that she had not noticed any such signs in the young boy.
During the hearing, the teacher recounted an incident where Stylianos brought a knife to school, which raised concerns about his behaviour. The defence attorney suggested that the boy's aggressive actions could stem from factors unrelated to his home life. However, the teacher maintained that, in her view, Stylianos’ behaviour was most accurately attributed to exposure to domestic violence within his family.
The questioning continued as the attorney for another defendant, a social worker, pressed the teacher on whether she had reported Stylianos’ situation to her superiors or a trained psychologist. The teacher acknowledged that she became aware of Stylianos’ issues after November 2009 and reported them to a special committee by February or March of 2010. The defence attorney accused her of failing to take appropriate interest in the boy's wellbeing, to which prosecutors objected, prompting the judge to strike the remark from the record.
Further probing revealed that in March 2010, the teacher had disagreed with a proposal for Stylianos to remain in nursery school for an additional year. She explained her belief that he would benefit more from the support available in primary school, including escort services and speech therapy, which were not offered in nursery.
The teacher recounted a particularly alarming interaction with Stylianos, where she advised him to be careful not to hurt himself. In response, he reportedly expressed a desire to fall and die. Additionally, he had made comments such as “I want to shoot you” and “I will send you to jail,” which the teacher believed he had learned from his home environment.
Stylianos’ tragic story took a darker turn when he attempted suicide in May 2019, before ultimately taking his life in September of the same year. The ongoing trial is examining the broader implications of family dynamics and the role of state services in protecting vulnerable children.
As the trial progresses, the prosecution is set to call a different witness to the stand on Tuesday, continuing to explore the circumstances surrounding Stylianos’ life and the factors that may have contributed to his untimely death. The case remains a poignant reminder of the critical importance of addressing mental health issues and the need for vigilant support systems for at-risk youth.