With reports of episodes of severe aggression, self-destructive behavior, and indications that the child was experiencing violence within his family environment, the trial concerning the circumstances surrounding the death of 14-year-old Stylianos Konstantinou continued on Thursday before the Nicosia District Court.

Stylianos’s kindergarten teacher for the 2009–2010 school year testified before the court, PA, who described a series of incidents that, as she stated, had caused her “serious concern” about the child’s behavior from the very first days she took over the class.

“He brought a knife to school,” the teacher said.

As she explained, when Stylianos was almost five years old and attending her class, he brought a knife to school one day, which—without anyone noticing at first—he pointed at the other children and at her.

“I reacted immediately and took the knife away from him before he even realized the seriousness of what he was doing. I got the impression that he was treating it like a game, but it was actually a very dangerous incident,” she testified.

The witness also described incidents in which Stylianos climbed onto the sandbox cover and refused to come down despite the teachers’ repeated pleas, hung from the classroom curtain, and on another occasion aggressively turned the desks toward his classmates.

According to her, Stylianos exhibited selective social behavior, seeking to develop a special relationship with her and constantly seeking her attention. She described him as “a very sweet and charming boy,” noting, however, that when he got angry, “he became a completely different person.”

“I had the strong impression that his behavior was a reflection of what he was experiencing in his family environment. He brought the shouting and intense reactions with him to school every day,” the witness said, adding that on some days he was “particularly aggressive.”

“He was dangerous both to the other children at school and to himself. I realized that this behavior stemmed from the situations he was experiencing at home,” she said.

The witness further testified that, according to what she had been told by the school psychologist, there were instances in which the mother’s husband allegedly subjected her to violence, resulting in complaints filed with the police regarding both her abuse and issues related to child protection.

As she noted, through her discussions with the educational psychologist, she had come to realize that the mother was struggling to leave the relationship, as she was financially dependent on her husband.

At the same time, she noted that there were also moments that painted a picture of a more normal family life, mentioning that on the feast day of Saint Stylianos, the family had thrown a party at home, with little Stylianos bringing related photos or crafts to school.

The child’s references to violence through his vocabulary

The teacher also noted that, based on the child’s vocabulary and behavior, she could tell what was happening at home.

As she explained, Stylianos told her that he had witnessed his father being violent toward his mother, and when the child was angry, he would use expressions such as “I’m going to beat you up,” “I’ll put you in jail,” and “I’ll beat you with my belt.”

She clarified that the child had not told her that he himself had been physically abused by his father or mother, noting, however, that such reports had been made to the school psychologist.

Referring to the child’s parents, the witness said that the mother was at the school almost every day and was aware of the child’s behavior and the school’s interventions, while the father appeared very rarely.

As she testified, she saw him only three times during the entire school year—specifically at a Christmas party, at a scheduled meeting, and one more time after a heated argument with the mother, when he picked Stylianos up from school and the child was subsequently absent for more than a week.

“My impression of the father was that he was particularly distant and did not wish to have any contact with the school. I cannot express any opinion beyond what I personally observed,” she stated.

The witness also testified that after the first serious incidents, she immediately informed her coordinator, who recommended that the child be referred to the Educational Psychology Service.

According to the witness, on October 9, 2009, she sent the relevant referral form, requesting an evaluation and support for Stylianos.

She stated that the educational psychologist met with both Stylianos and his mother and —as she said—confirmed the school’s assessment that both the child and his family needed support.

The witness also said that, over time, the situation was getting worse, as Stylianos was becoming increasingly “aggressive and destructive,” going so far in some cases as to “bang his head against the wall, pull his hair violently, and prick his hands with pins.”

She stated that she submitted a request for approval of a school aide, believing that there was a risk to both the child’s own safety and that of the other students in the class.

As she explained, the request was not approved; however, the educational psychologist continued to visit the school and monitor Stylianos’s progress.

The proceedings will continue on Friday at 11:00 a.m. with the cross-examination of the witness.

The case, which is being heard before the Nicosia District Court, concerns the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of 14-year-old Stylianos Konstantinou, with the Court examining potential liability both within the family and on the part of government agencies. The proceedings focus, among other things, on whether there were instances of abuse or neglect within the family, whether the mother was aware of such incidents and failed to report them, as well as whether the relevant Social Welfare Services officials adequately assessed and handled the information before them.