Police stuck in teen’s death investigation

Police investigators are seeking more detailed instructions from the legal department in the death investigation of a teenager who died in Larnaca in a suspected binge drinking incident.

The case file has been completed in the death of Panayiotis Stefanis, a 16-year-old student from Larnaca, who collapsed outside a residence where he attended a birthday party in April.

But according to Philenews, the legal department has returned the file back to police, seeking a fuller account of the incident following allegations of bullying that emerged days after the incident.

Media sources said investigators have gathered witness statements reportedly confirming the presence of alcohol at the party, after state forensic pathologist Eleni Antoniou, who conducted the post mortem examination, reportedly said the dead teen reeked of alcohol.

While laws against alcohol consumption under the legal age make it illegal for anyone to supply alcohol to minors, bullying was not considered a criminal offence in the Republic of Cyprus.

As it was previously reported on Knews, it was never clear whether investigators might consider drawing possible links between binge drinking and bullying in Panayiotis’ death investigation.

But according to the latest developments, the legal department is expected to respond to investigators who seek further instructions on how to conclude their investigation while also accounting for allegations of bullying.

An official report initially pointed to sudden and unnatural death.