A criminal investigator told the Nicosia District Court that no protective measures were taken for 14-year-old Stylianos Konstantinou prior to his death, answering “no” when asked directly during proceedings into the boy’s 2019 suicide.
The testimony by investigator Andreas Andreou outlined a pattern of information held for years by Social Welfare Services officials without what he described as the necessary protective action being taken.
Evidence of domestic violence there all along
Prosecutor Eleni Constantinou presented a series of Social Welfare files as evidence, including standard documents for restraining orders in domestic violence cases and case files relating specifically to the boy’s family.
Particular focus was placed on a domestic violence file linked to the child’s mother and a separate file on early intervention and support.
Andreou said the investigation centred on entries made by welfare officers, which recorded incidents and information known to the services.
“The entire investigation revolves around these entries,” he told the court, adding that investigators assessed whether officials acted as required based on the information available and established procedures.
The files, he said, showed the services were aware of domestic violence against the child, as well as signs of neglect from an early age, dating back to kindergarten, including concerns about his appearance, care and basic needs such as nutrition.
Authorities knew of previous suicide attempt
Court heard the records portray a socially isolated child with no contact with peers, who was working from a young age and had expressed a wish to have a different mother.
The investigator also referred to behavioural “imitation” of his parents, reinforcing concerns about the home environment.
He further cited a 2014 conviction of the boy’s father for violence against him, which he said was “known and recorded”.
Andreou confirmed that Social Welfare Services had been informed of a suicide attempt by the boy on 11 May 2019, months before his death.
However, he said no immediate or effective protective measures were taken.
No help provided
Despite the case being urgent and involving a minor, psychological support was not provided, reportedly because the child did not wish to participate.
Andreou said authorities had the power to intervene without the minor’s consent, but this was not done.
Asked again in court whether any protective measures had been taken, his answer remained unequivocal: “No.”
CNA