stylianos constantinou — No protective measures were taken for 14-year-old Stylianos Constantinou despite years of warning signs, a criminal investigator revealed in a Nicosia district court on Thursday. The court proceedings are focused on the tragic events surrounding the boy’s death in September 2019.
Investigator Andreas Andreou addressed the court during the trial, which scrutinises potential lapses by authorities leading up to the teenager’s suicide. When asked directly by the prosecution if any action had been taken to safeguard Stylianos, Andreou’s response was a succinct, “no”.
The investigation has unearthed troubling evidence, primarily drawn from internal welfare files submitted by the prosecution. These documents outline a series of incidents involving Stylianos that social welfare services had been aware of over several years yet failed to act upon.
Included in the submitted material were records related to domestic violence and what was termed the child’s “early support” file. Andreou stated, “The entire investigation revolves around these entries,” which chronicle observations made by welfare officers about the child.
Within these files, there are repeated mentions of domestic violence directed at Stylianos and early signs of neglect that date back to his preschool years. The records raised alarm over his appearance, hygiene, and nutrition, suggesting that the boy was not receiving the care he needed.
Testimony from Andreou painted a picture of a socially isolated child, with limited interactions among peers. He had been working from a young age and had expressed a desire to “have a different mother”. Such comments raised further concerns regarding his home environment.
Additionally, Andreou highlighted that Stylianos’ father had a prior conviction for violence against the child in 2014, a fact that had been documented in the welfare files. Despite these alarming indicators, the court heard there was no sustained follow-up to address the identified risks.
Significant attention was paid to events in the months leading up to Stylianos’ tragic death. The court learned that welfare authorities had been made aware of a suicide attempt by the boy on May 11, 2019. However, Andreou noted that the authorities’ subsequent response fell short of what was required for such an emergency involving a minor.
He stated, “It was an emergency case involving a minor,” stressing that psychological support was never provided. The rationale given was that the child did not wish to participate in any support programmes. Andreou emphasised that authorities had the legal power to intervene, regardless of the minor’s consent, yet this opportunity was not seized.
This testimony is part of a broader case that includes multiple defendants, comprising the child’s parents and several welfare officials, who are facing charges linked to alleged negligence and failures to act in the lead-up to Stylianos’ suicide.
