Former teacher testifies in trial over 2019 death of 14-year-old Stylianos Constantinou

Nicosia, Cyprus. A former teacher of Stylianos Constantinou, the 14-year-old who died by suicide in 2019, told Nicosia district court on Friday that she had reported all allegations of violence he had made about his home.

She said she had not withheld any information provided by the child.

Cross-examination

During cross-examination, lawyer for the boy’s father, Konstantinos Kazantzis, suggested that the teacher’s reports on Stylianos’ aggression and behaviour at school were based on her own conclusions and that she could not have known what was happening at home.

The teacher said her observations as an educator showed changes in the child’s behaviour and difficulties with concentration. She added that the family situation “did not allow him to function smoothly in school”.

Injuries and earlier statements

The court also heard reference to abrasions, a head injury and a burn mark on the child’s body, which the teacher had mentioned during earlier proceedings.

According to the teacher, Stylianos had told her that the burn had been caused by his father extinguishing a cigarette on his body.

Asked whether she knew the child’s parents had never smoked, she said she could not have known.

Kazantzis also questioned the teacher about incidents she had referred to in earlier proceedings but which, he said, were not included in her 2020 investigative statement.

The teacher said she had mentioned many matters at the time, but they had been recorded “in a laconic manner”, adding that she had not been asked specific questions.

“Seeing that the trial will take place and thinking back, some incidents came to mind. I want, while I am now being given a second chance to speak on behalf of my student, to speak and do everything right,” she said.