Nicosia, Cyprus. The Nicosia district court on Thursday rejected a defence request for full disclosure of criminal investigators’ findings in the case surrounding the death of 14-year-old Stylianos Constantinou, while ordering that all evidentiary material be handed over.
Court decision on disclosure
Delivering the decision, Judge Pavlos Ayapitos ruled that releasing the findings in full “poses a serious risk” to the rights of third parties. He affirmed that “the evidence obtained during the investigation of the case is subject to disclosure,” granting the defence full access to statements, documents and other material collected.
Defence request and investigators’ report
The ruling followed a request filed on March 27 by defence lawyers seeking access to a November 2020 report prepared by criminal investigators after the completion of their inquiry. The document, submitted to attorney-general George Savvides, includes both evidentiary material and conclusions on whether criminal offences arose.
Scope of prosecution obligations
Ayapitos clarified that the prosecution’s obligation “does not extend to the disclosure of what the criminal investigators concluded”. The court said ensuring a fair trial requires full transparency of the evidence itself.
Deadline for providing report sections
The prosecution was ordered to provide copies of specific sections of the report, including pages 3 to 6 and annexed material, by midday on Friday.
Background and charges
The case centres on the suicide of Stylianos in September 2019, which prompted an investigation into alleged abuse within the family and possible institutional failures. A total of 218 charges have been brought against 11 defendants, including the boy’s parents and nine social service officials.
What impact do you think the court’s disclosure limits could have on the defence’s preparation for trial?