Cyprus appeals sentence against David Hunter who killed terminally ill wife

David Hunter (left) court in Paphos after his release from custody Photo: Victoria Jones/PA Wire

Cypriot prosecutors appeal conviction of manslaughter of David Hunter, the British man who killed his seriously ill wife, who was released from prison last month after serving time.

After a 17-month trial period, Mr Hunter was found not guilty of intentional murder of his wife Janice.

Instead, a court in Paphos, western Cyprus, found him guilty of manslaughter and sentenced him to two years in prison, but, given the 19 months he spent behind bars, ordered his immediate release.

G Hunter, 76, and his family cheered: his lawyers said they were «delighted» with the result, and his daughter Lesley Cawthorne said it was «the best possible result.»

But on Thursday, the General Prosecutor's Office of Cyprus filed an appeal against the decision of the Paphos court. Prosecutors say Mr. Hunter should have been found guilty of premeditated murder, which carries a mandatory life sentence.

No date has been set for the first hearing in the case, and it will be heard by the Court of Appeal in Nicosia. Mr. Hunter was shocked to learn that the prosecutor's office is filing an appeal.

“He's really shocked. He continues the process of mourning. Going through all this again is very unpleasant, ”one of his lawyers, Michael Polak, told The Telegraph. The appeal, which could take several months, was «unexpected,» Polak said.

David Hunter visited his wife's grave after being released from Prisons in Cyprus Photo: Victoria Jones/PA Wire

Mr Hunter, who first visited his wife's grave the day after his release from prison, has remained in Cyprus.

He claimed he killed his 74-year-old wife in December 2021 only because she had been begging him for months to put her out of her misery. She suffered from blood cancer and a number of other diseases that forced her to wear adult diapers.

In emotional testimony, he showed the court how he killed her by strangling her mouth and nose with his hands.

“I would never have taken the life of my wife in a million years if she had not asked me to. I didn't plan this, I swear to God. But she said she didn't want to live anymore. She begged me. For six weeks she asked me 24 hours a day. It made my head spin,” he told the court.

After killing her, he tried but failed to commit suicide by swallowing all the pills he could find in their common house in a village near Paphos.

Childhood lovers

They retired 20 years ago after Mr Hunter spent decades. works in a coal mine in his native Northumberland. The couple were childhood sweethearts and have been married for over 50 years.

«We are obviously very disappointed by the Attorney General's decision today to file an appeal that prevents David from moving on with his life,» said Michael Polak, one of Mr. Hunter.

“He spent 19 months in prison and during that time faced court cases that would be difficult for anyone, but especially for someone of his age.

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“This a very sad thing; however, it is difficult to see how the ongoing prosecution of David is helping anyone.

«We will continue to fight for David in the Cyprus Court of Appeal, as we have done throughout the long mission to free David.»< /p>