Court examines handling of 2019 suicide case of 14-year-old in Nicosia

On Monday, independent criminal investigator Andreas Andreou testified before the Nicosia district court regarding the 2019 suicide of 14-year-old Stylianos Constantinou. The case examines allegations of domestic violence and the failure of state authorities to protect the minor. Andreou stated that social welfare services should have placed the teenager into temporary custody to ensure his safety. He noted that while there were no medical reports of injuries, the boy frequently arrived at school with bruises and alleged he was beaten by his father. Two welfare officers pleaded guilty in May and received suspended prison sentences for neglect of duty. The current trial involves a third welfare officer whose defense attorney cross-examined the investigator regarding the lack of explicit evidence of imminent danger in the files. Andreou maintained that despite the lack of formal medical records, the reports warranted a more thorough investigation and direct intervention. He suggested that timely removal from the home environment could have prevented the tragedy.