Educator tells Nicosia court of neglect and exhaustion suffered by Stylianos Constantinou

Nicosia, Cyprus. A special educator told Nicosia district court on Thursday that Stylianos Constantinou, who died by suicide aged 14, had suffered severe neglect. Testifying in the ongoing trial, the witness described a boy who was exhausted, isolated from classmates and struggling academically.

Learning difficulties and exhaustion

The educator had been assigned to work with Stylianos in the 2012 to 2013 academic year. Although the boy was attending third grade, the witness said his learning abilities were at first-grade level.

“He could barely read, but was trying hard,” the educator told the court.

According to the witness, Stylianos would be asleep at his desk when his sessions with the educator were due. Attempts to wake him were unsuccessful, and the boy would later explain that he felt tired because he had worked on the farm until 11pm.

Emotional testimony

The witness began sobbing while reading a statement he had given police in 2020.

He told the court that, given the boy’s overall condition, he had believed Stylianos would inevitably fare badly. However, he said he had never expected the boy to take his own life; instead, he had thought Stylianos might eventually walk out of the family home.