Teacher testifies in Nicosia District Court regarding the death of a young boy

On October 19 and 20, 2026, a primary school teacher, identified as S.M., testified before the Nicosia District Court regarding the 2019 death of a student named Stylianos. The witness, who taught the boy during his second and third years of primary school, described the child as a selfless individual who shared his food with siblings, despite facing significant personal hardships. The teacher detailed the boy’s poor hygiene, mentioning his unkempt appearance, oversized shoes, and persistent unpleasant odor, which frequently alienated him from his peers.

During cross-examination by defense attorneys, including Constantinos Kazantzis, S.M. explicitly denied that the student was a victim of bullying. He maintained that he was consistently present in the classroom and the schoolyard during breaks and observed no such incidents. The defense questioned the witness regarding discrepancies between his courtroom testimony and his earlier statement to criminal investigators, which the teacher attributed to his emotional state at the time. The judicial proceedings, which examine the boy's living conditions and potential neglect, remain ongoing as the court continues to evaluate evidence surrounding his death.