A British expatriate who was convicted of killing his terminally ill wife has died in a Cypriot hospital, his family confirmed today.
Background of the Case
David Hunter, 78, was found guilty of manslaughter in 2023 after he suffocated his wife Janice, 74, at their home in Tremithousa, near Paphos, in December 2021. Janice had been battling terminal blood cancer and had begged her husband for weeks to end her life, the court heard during the trial.
Hunter, a retired coal miner originally from Ashington, Northumberland, had been living in Cyprus since 2002. The couple had been married for 52 years.
Health Decline and Hospitalization
His daughter Lesley Cawthorne, 53, confirmed that her father passed away in a Cypriot hospital. Hunter had been in declining health since his release from custody three years ago. He was hospitalized this week due to a urinary tract infection but died unexpectedly.
Following Janice's death, Hunter received a two-year prison sentence. However, including time already served, he was freed in the summer of 2023. He remained on the island to stay near his late wife's burial site near Tremithousa.
Legal Appeals and Public Attention
Cyprus' attorney general lodged appeals against both the manslaughter conviction and the sentence, with further court proceedings scheduled. The case attracted worldwide media attention, sparking debate over mercy killing.
During the trial, the Paphos court heard that after Janice's death, Hunter attempted to take his own life but was discovered by police alerted by Interpol after he contacted relatives.
Lesley, from Norwich, said: "We are devastated and the support over the last few years has meant the world to us."
