British man who killed terminally ill wife after she ‘begged him to’ is freed from Cyprus prison
A retired British miner who suffocated his terminally ill wife in Cyprus after she “begged him to” has been launched after spending practically two years behind bars.
David Hunter, 76, admitted killing Janice Hunter, 74, his partner of 52 years, at their dwelling close to the coastal resort city of Paphos in December 2021.
Ms Hunter had been struggling from blood most cancers and the courtroom was informed she had “begged” her husband to finish her life.
Hunter was handed a two-year prison sentence on Monday however was launched shortly after the sentencing, having already spent 19 months in a Cypriot prison.
Talking exterior Paphos District Courtroom after strolling free, a visibly emotional Hunter informed reporters: “I can’t describe it. I’m sorry. I want I might, I want I might discover phrases to explain it however I can’t.
“While you’re underneath stress for 2 years, not figuring out which approach it’s going to go.”
His daughter, Lesley Cawthorne, stated she feels her “coronary heart has been put again collectively” since his launch, including: “At present is the beginning of us having the ability to rebuild our lives.”
(PA Media)
Paphos District Courtroom earlier heard that his motive was to “liberate his wife from all that she was going by way of attributable to her well being situations”.
In the course of the year-long trial, the courtroom heard it was Ms Hunter’s “want” to die and that her husband “had solely emotions of affection for her”.
Hunter, from Ashington, Northumberland, informed the courtroom that his wife had “cried and begged” him to finish her life. He broke down in tears as he stated he would “by no means in one million years” have taken his wife’s life until she had requested him to.
He confirmed the courtroom how he held his fingers over his wife’s mouth and nostril, and stated he ultimately determined to grant her want after she turned “hysterical”.
The courtroom heard how he then tried to kill himself by taking an overdose, however medics arrived in time to save lots of him.
David Hunter exterior Paphos District Courtroom in Cyprus after he was launched from custody
(PA Wire)
Following his launch, Ms Cawthorne stated the final 19 months had been a “dwelling nightmare” for his or her household.
She stated: “At present is the beginning of us having the ability to rebuild our lives. Dad’s launch additionally means we will lastly grieve for my mum, and I hope everybody can respect our privateness while we take the time to come back to phrases together with her loss.”
She added: “So many individuals have labored exhausting and supported our efforts to convey my dad dwelling, too many to say, however you realize who you’re and you realize you’ve gotten our deepest gratitude.
“The kindness and love of mates and strangers has been the factor that has stored us going, and we will by no means thanks all sufficient.”
David Hunter along with his defence crew (proper) and Michael Polak, the director of Justice Overseas
(PA)
After speaking to her father on the cellphone, Ms Cawthorne added: “Chatting with my daddy was probably the most superb factor. I really feel like my coronary heart has been put again collectively.”
Giving proof throughout his trial, Hunter spoke of a “excellent” 52-year marriage to his wife and broke down in tears as he described the second he killed her.
“For 5 or 6 weeks earlier than she died she was asking me to assist her. She was asking me extra on daily basis,” he stated. “Within the final week she was crying and begging me. On daily basis she requested me a bit extra intensely to do it.”
David Hunter was launched from prison on Monday
(PA)
The courtroom heard from Ms Hunter’s physician, who stated she had a uncommon blood most cancers, whereas Hunter stated she had turn out to be progressively extra unwell and had no high quality of life.
Requested by defence lawyer Ritsa Pekri how the final days had been, Hunter stated: “She was crying, crying, crying, begging, begging, begging.
“She wasn’t taking any care of herself. For the final two or three weeks she couldn’t transfer her arms and had bother together with her legs, she couldn’t steadiness.
“She was solely consuming soup, she couldn’t maintain something down. She misplaced a variety of weight. She misplaced a lot weight that there was no flesh to place her injections in.”
David Hunter is led away from Paphos District Courtroom in Cyprus after he was discovered responsible by Cypriot judges of the manslaughter of his terminally ill wife Janice
(PA Wire)
The Hunters visited Cyprus on holidays and acquired a property there in 1999 earlier than retiring there completely two years later.
Ms Hunter is buried a brief distance away from the couple’s former dwelling in Tremithousa – a quiet village about three miles from Paphos.
In a press release issued after the sentencing, the director of Justice Overseas, Michael Polak, stated his shopper was “more than happy” with the end result.
“The results of at this time’s listening to, and the courtroom’s earlier choice discovering Mr Hunter not responsible of homicide, is what we’ve been combating for on this case, and David is more than happy with the end result at this time,” he stated.
He added: “This has been a tragic case and troublesome for all of these concerned with it, however at this time’s choice was the appropriate one and permits David and his household to grieve collectively.”
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