Testimony reveals abuse allegations in Nicosia district court trial

On Monday, the Nicosia District Court continued the trial regarding the 2019 death of 14-year-old Stylianos Constantinou. Witness A.Th., a former special education liaison officer at the Agia Varvara Primary School, testified about the systematic abuse the child allegedly suffered within his family environment. According to her testimony, the school staff was aware that the boy endured physical and psychological violence, including beatings, forced labor, and witnessing animal cruelty.

The witness recounted distressing reports received from the boy’s teachers and speech therapist, noting that Stylianos had once arrived at a session in pain and unable to sit after being allegedly beaten by his father with a tool. Staff members noted that the child was deeply distressed at the end of the school day, as he viewed the school as his only sanctuary. Despite repeated attempts by the school to secure support for the student, the information provided to the court paints a picture of a child trapped in a cycle of domestic abuse, where even methods like beating the soles of his feet were allegedly used to avoid leaving visible marks.