Nicosia District Court allows hearsay evidence in Stylianos Konstantinou death case

On Friday, the Nicosia District Court ruled in favor of admitting hearsay evidence in the ongoing legal proceedings concerning the 2019 death of 14-year-old Stylianos Konstantinou. Presiding judge Pavlos Agapitos delivered an 18-page decision rejecting the defense's objection against including statements allegedly made by the deceased regarding abuse he suffered. The prosecution had argued that these statements, made to the victim's kindergarten teacher, were essential for the administration of justice. Citing the 2004 legislative reform 32(I)/2004, the court determined that hearsay evidence is not subject to automatic exclusion in the Cypriot legal system. Instead, the court emphasized that such evidence must be evaluated based on the specific circumstances of each case, rather than through abstract principles. The teacher is scheduled to testify before the court this coming Tuesday. This decision establishes a procedural path for the consideration of the contested testimonies.