Nurse tells court Stylianos Constantinou’s living conditions were known to everyone
Kyriaki Ioannou testified that 14-year-old Stylianos Constantinou was not relocated despite widespread awareness of his living conditions.
Nicosia, Cyprus. Mental health services head nurse Kyriaki Ioannou told a court on Friday that everyone knew about the living conditions of Stylianos Constantinou, the 14-year-old who died by suicide, but he had not been moved elsewhere.
Neglect allegations under examination
The proceedings concern an investigation into Stylianos’ death, with allegations that his family and state services neglected him being examined by the court.
Ioannou returned to court on Friday for further cross-examination. She had provided support to his mother from 2010 to 2012 while serving as a mental health nursing officer.
Questions about the mother’s mental health
Angelos Ioannou, the lawyer representing Stylianos’ mother, questioned the witness about his client’s psychological condition. He asked her to explain her description of the mother as “depressed but functional” and the extent to which she could function while experiencing depression.
The nurse explained that the mother could drive, take her children to school and manage the home. She also contacted the social worker, approached police and asked for assistance.
When asked whether there were intermediate stages between depression and delusional psychotic depression, Ioannou said there were, but stressed that she lacked the qualifications to diagnose the mother.
School difficulties and requests for help
Ioannou testified that, in March 2011, the mother had told her that Stylianos continued to experience problems at school. According to that account, he refused to go into the classroom and sometimes struck his head against his desk. The mother also reported bullying.
The nurse said responsibility for those incidents lay with the school.
She further testified that the mother had described disputes with the father and said he beat her. The mother also reported financial difficulties and described a dysfunctional household linked to lengthy hours at the farm. Ioannou said welfare services had been informed.
According to the witness, the mother sought assistance from police, school staff, the authorities and the priest in the village.
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