Sentencing set for two defendants in Stylianos suicide trial

The Nicosia district court will pass sentence on May 15 for two of 11 defendants charged with dereliction of duty in the trial into the suicide of 14-year-old Stylianos Constantinou in September 2019.

The two are the fifth and seventh defendants, who changed their pleas to guilty – a social services officer who admitted to three charges and a welfare services officer who admitted to one.

During Thursday’s proceedings, the court rejected an objection by one of the defendants regarding multiple indictments.

Defence lawyer Constantinos Nicolaides argued that eight charges against the fourth defendant related to neglect of duty and were therefore repetitive, differing only in the time periods during which the alleged offences took place.

He also argued that the number of indictments created “confusion” and deprived his client of an effective and fair trial.

Prosecutor Eleni Constantinou said the matter was procedural and that the charges would simply be read out.

Judge Pavlos Agapitos dismissed the objection, ruling that multiple charges for the same offence do not invalidate proceedings when they relate to separate incidents.

Following the interim ruling, the trial continued with the cross-examination of criminal investigator Andreas Andreou, who had been appointed on January 10, 2020.

Proceedings will resume at 11am on May 15, while sentencing for the two defendants who pleaded guilty will be delivered at 9.30am by Judge Maria Stylianou.

The case centres on the suicide of Stylianos in September 2019, which prompted an investigation into alleged abuse within the family and possible institutional failures.

A total of 218 charges have been brought against 11 defendants, including the boy’s parents and nine social welfare officials, the latter facing dereliction of duty charges.

The father faces charges relating to alleged physical and psychological abuse, including “cruel and inhumane treatment”, while the mother is accused of failing to report known violence.

A police officer is being tried separately.