Trial proceedings regarding the death of 14-year-old Stylianos Konstantinou

The Nicosia District Court continues to hear the case concerning the death of 14-year-old Stylianos Konstantinou, examining potential responsibilities of both family members and state services. During Monday's session, the cross-examination of a witness who was the child's preschool teacher in 2009-2010 concluded. The defense attorney for the victim's mother, Jonathan Petito, claimed that the mother suffers from bipolar disorder, a condition he alleged the child inherited. The defense argued that this disorder may cause individuals to misinterpret or invent events, suggesting that alleged instances of domestic violence did not occur. The witness previously testified to seeing the mother with visible injuries, including a lip wound and a leg bruise, which the mother had attributed to her partner. Regarding the mother's state, the witness noted that she appeared to be an overworked individual struggling with farm labor and child-rearing responsibilities. The witness maintained she had not observed any symptoms of mental illness in the child at that time. The defense also questioned whether the child's own behavioral patterns could be linked to potential genetic mental health issues.