Stylianos Constantinou, the 15-year-old boy who tragically took his own life in 2019, was described in court as having lived in an abusive environment from birth. The Nicosia district court commenced the trial of 11 defendants linked to the circumstances surrounding his death, with a staggering 218 charges brought against them.
- When pressed by the prosecution, the sergeant stated he had made strict recommendations to Stylianos’s father to avoid repeating violent incidents, to which the father allegedly agreed.
The charges include accusations against Constantinou’s father for alleged physical and psychological violence, common assault, and inhumane treatment. Meanwhile, his mother faces charges for failing to report known instances of violence, a serious criminal offence. In addition, nine employees of the social welfare services department have been charged with neglect of duty, with two already having pleaded guilty. A separate case has also been brought against a police sergeant for dereliction of duty.
Stylianos constantinou: Unfolding Testimonies at the Trial
The first witness was a police constable from Pera Chorio, who recounted that on May 28, 2010, over nine years before Stylianos’s death, his mother sought to divorce his father. She expressed feelings of being forced into hard labour on their farm, deprived of social interaction and rest. The constable noted that she had reported this to social welfare services, which supposedly monitored the situation. However, the police categorised the complaint as a “non-criminal case”.
This testimony faced objections from the defence, who argued its relevance. The prosecution maintained that it highlighted allegations of domestic violence by the father, which purportedly inflicted psychological harm on Stylianos.
A Pattern of Neglect and Violence
Further testimony came from a police sergeant, who recalled an incident from December 19, 2007, when Stylianos was only three years old. His mother had reported domestic violence, yet she declined to pursue charges against her husband. The sergeant claimed he had informed social welfare services, but marked the case as requiring no further action. This action sparked further debate about the adequacy of the responses from both police and social services.
When pressed by the prosecution, the sergeant stated he had made strict recommendations to Stylianos’s father to avoid repeating violent incidents, to which the father allegedly agreed.
Aftermath of a Tragic Death
Stylianos Constantinou was found dead on September 5, 2019, at the family farm, causing public outrage and prompting an investigation led by ombudswoman Maria Stylianou Lottides. Her report revealed significant failures from both the police and social welfare services in recognising the psychological abuse endured by Stylianos and the history of violence towards his mother. Lottides accused the social workers of
