Teacher tells court Stylianos saved school food for his siblings
A former teacher described Stylianos Constantinou’s learning difficulties, hygiene problems and efforts to share food with his siblings during testimony in Nicosia.
Nicosia, Cyprus. A teacher who taught Stylianos Constantinou in primary school grades two and three told the Nicosia district court on Monday that the boy frequently kept food provided at school for his siblings. Testifying for the prosecution, he described the difficulties faced by Stylianos, who died by suicide aged 14, and the school’s attempts to help him.
Concerns about living conditions
The teacher said Stylianos had difficulties with learning and received support from the school. He also outlined concerns raised about the conditions in which the boy lived.
According to his testimony, Stylianos arrived at school with homework unfinished, uncombed hair and dirt on his clothing, face and fingernails. His shoes were frequently oversized, and an unpleasant smell deterred other pupils from taking seats beside him.
The teacher described holding his breath when approaching Stylianos to check his work, then moving away before breathing in again. He said the problem varied in severity from day to day.
Help with hygiene and socialising
The teacher said the boy’s escort helped him clean his face and hands, brush his teeth and tidy his hair while at school.
He told the court that everyone tried to encourage Stylianos to socialise. Although the boy initially spent breaks sitting by himself, he eventually began joining games, while remaining highly reserved.
The teacher said Stylianos never made unkind remarks about anyone and likened him to “a saintly recluse”.
Food shared with siblings
The teacher said he and the escort recognised early that Stylianos was not getting an adequate breakfast. The boy would bring either a cheese slice or a few olives to school.
They arranged for him to have food or purchased something for him at the school canteen, the witness said. Stylianos, however, frequently kept the food so he could share it with his siblings.
“Whenever I brought him some cake my wife had baked, the next day he would bring wild asparagus to school for me to take home,” the teacher said.
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