A Northumberland man who killed his terminally ill wife has died in a hospital in Cyprus, his family has announced. David Hunter, 78, was found guilty of manslaughter in 2023 after he suffocated his wife Janice, 74, at their home in Cyprus in December 2021.
Background of the Case
The trial heard that Janice had been suffering from terminal blood cancer and had begged her husband for weeks to end her life. David Hunter, a former coal miner from Ashington, had been in declining health since his release from prison three years ago. He was admitted to hospital this week due to a urinary tract infection but died suddenly on Monday.
Family's Statement
His daughter Lesley Cawthorne, 53, confirmed her father's death, saying: "We are devastated and the support over the last few years has meant the world to us." David and Janice had been married for 52 years and retired to Cyprus in 2002.
Legal Proceedings
After Janice's death, Hunter was jailed for two years but was released in the summer of 2023 after time served. He remained in Cyprus to be near his wife's grave near Tremithousa. Cyprus' attorney general appealed both the manslaughter verdict and the sentencing, with further court hearings pending.
Details of the Incident
During the trial in Paphos, it was revealed that after suffocating Janice, Hunter attempted to take his own life. He was discovered by police officers alerted by Interpol after he contacted family to confess. The case garnered international headlines, sparking debates about mercy killing.
