Brit arrested in Cyprus over death of wife 'to avoid murder trial'

British pensioner, 75, arrested in Cyprus for killing his terminally ill wife ‘who had begged him to help her die’ will NOT face murder trial

• A deal was reached with Cypriot prosecutors, according a group working with David Hunter’s lawyers
• Justice Abroad said he will be entering a plea to manslaughter
• Mr Hunter was accused of murdering his terminally ill wife, who died at the couple’s retirement home

A British pensioner arrested over the death of his sick wife in Cyprus is no longer facing a murder trial after a deal was reached with Cypriot prosecutors, according a group working with his lawyers.

David Hunter, 75, is charged with the murder of his wife Janice, 74, who died in December 2021 at the couple’s retirement home in the coastal resort town of Paphos, where many British expatriates in Cyprus live.

Justice Abroad, which works to help people navigate foreign justice systems, said the parties informed the Paphos Assize Court at a hearing on Friday that there had been agreement regarding the facts of the case and that Mr Hunter will be entering a plea to manslaughter on December 5.

They said they are now hopeful the legal moves will lead to Mr Hunter being released from prison and able to return home after the next hearing.

David Hunter, 75, (left) originally from Northumberland, was accused of murdering his wife of 46 years, Janice, (right) at their home in Paphos, in December 2021. He is no longer facing a murder trial after a deal was reached with Cypriot prosecutors, according a group working with his lawyers

The organisation said it is working with Cypriot lawyers Nicoletta Charalambidou and Ritsa Pekri to help Mr Hunter, a former miner from Northumberland.

Michael Polak, director of Justice Abroad, said: ‘We are very pleased that the murder charge is no longer on the table as our objective all along has been to get David out of prison and back home as soon as possible.

‘At the next hearing David’s strong mitigation, such as his good character and long and loving relationship with his wife, will be put before the court.

‘We hope, given the particular facts of this case, and case law in similar cases from around the world, that the eventual sentence is one that the court could consider suspending.

‘We thank everyone from the United Kingdom, Cyprus, and around the world for their support of David and his family at this difficult time.’

The couple had been married for 46 years before Janice’s death. They had moved to Cyprus from Ashington in Northumberland following their retirement in 2002

Earlier this year, Mr Hunter’s daughter Lesley said her mother had ‘begged him for a long time (to assist her death) and was very clear about what she wanted’.

Justice Abroad said that Mrs Hunter had been suffering from terminal blood cancer.

The couple had moved to Cyprus from Ashington in Northumberland following their retirement in 2002.   

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