Supreme Court rejects application by welfare officials in Stylianos trial
The Supreme Court rejected an application by two social welfare officials seeking to overturn a decision by the District Court in the trial concerning the death of Stylianos Konstantinou.
Supreme Court: decision on hearsay testimony in Stylianos trial stands
The Supreme Court rejected, according to Cyprus Mail, an application by two social services officials who sought to quash an interim decision by the Nicosia District Court, whereby statements made by the deceased Stylianos Konstantinou were accepted as hearsay testimony in the criminal trial concerning his death.
The decision was announced on Tuesday and also rejected a request to suspend the criminal proceedings pending examination of the application.
The two officials are among 11 defendants in connection with Stylianos's death. He died by suicide in 2019 at the age of 15. The trial also involves his parents and seven other employees of the Social Welfare Services.
The application was submitted following the District Court's decision on 26 June to accept Stylianos's statements as hearsay testimony, rejecting the defence's objections.
The applicants argued that the lower court had exceeded its jurisdiction and called on the Supreme Court to intervene. They also invoked the existence of exceptional circumstances, highlighting that the prosecution intended to call numerous witnesses who would report statements made by the deceased.
The Supreme Court rejected this position, ruling that the issues raised by the applicants could be addressed through the ordinary appeal procedure. It emphasised that discretionary writs are intended exclusively for exceptional cases.
"Disputing the correctness of the impugned decision and the alleged violation of case law and legislation does not in itself constitute an exceptional circumstance," the court stated in its decision.
The court concluded that the applicants had failed to demonstrate sufficient grounds that would justify granting permission for the writs or suspending either the District Court's decision or the criminal proceedings.
The trial before the Nicosia District Court continues.
Source: Cyprus Mail