Special education teacher cross-examined in Nicosia court case

On October 2, 2026, the Nicosia District Court held a hearing regarding the case of a minor named Stylianos. The proceedings focused on the cross-examination of Stella Konstantinou Allagiotou, a special education teacher who worked with the child during his pre-primary and first-grade education. The defense lawyers for the child's father, Konstantinos Kazantzis, and a social welfare officer, Viktor Akamas, challenged her expert testimony concerning allegations of physical and psychological abuse within the family environment.

The defense argued that the witness's conclusions were not based on direct statements from the child and questioned whether she had followed mandatory protection protocols. In response, Allagiotou maintained that her assessments were grounded in observable behavioral patterns, the child's repeated accounts of his experiences, and her professional interaction with him. She clarified that her work was strictly an educational evaluation and not a psychological diagnosis, while reiterating her recommendation that the child be examined by a pediatric neurologist.

The session centered on the procedural accuracy of reporting potential abuse and the scope of the teacher's educational assessments. While the defense challenged the validity of her findings, the witness remained firm in her professional position. The court proceedings are ongoing as the legal teams continue to examine the actions taken by both the family and the relevant social services involved in the case.