The family of a British pensioner accused of killing his terminally ill wife have today said they are ‘devastated’ after a Cyprus court U-turned on a plea deal that would have seen him released in time for Christmas.
David Hunter, 75, has been in jail on remand for a year after being arrested and accused of murdering his wife Janice, also 75, who was suffering from terminal blood cancer, at their retirement home in Paphos.
Earlier this month lawyers representing Mr Hunter had been led to believe that a plea bargain was agreed and that he would plead guilty to manslaughter on agreed facts – paving the way for a possible release on compassionate grounds.
But instead at today’s hearing in Paphos, a holiday resort in western Cyprus popular with Britons, the court decided to press ahead with his case as a murder trial, meaning Mr Hunter could face life in prison if convicted.
The news left Mr Hunter’s daughter Lesley, who lives in Norwich, in tears as she told MailOnline: ‘I’m just shocked and stunned. We are devastated and just don’t know how this has happened.’
British pensioner David Hunter is escorted to a custody van at Paphos Assize Court in Cyprus after his hearing was adjourned on December 5
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
Justice Abroad said the case against Mr Hunter is likely the first euthanasia case to be tried on the eastern Mediterranean island nation.
It comes as lawmakers in Cyprus debate whether to decriminalise euthanasia, amid strong opposition from conservative circles, including the influential Orthodox Church.
Janice died in December 2021 at the couple’s retirement home in Paphos, where many of the island’s 60,000 British expatriates live. The details of how she died have not been made public.
Janice, who was married to Mr Hunter for 46 years, was on heavy medication for a type of terminal blood cancer at the time.
Mr Hunter, a former British miner, said in September after a court appearance that Janice had been diagnosed with cancer in 2016 and after watching her sister die of the disease, she ‘knew what was coming’.
Hunter, who also tried to take his own life on the same day as killing Janice, said outside the court at the time: ‘She wasn’t just my wife she was my best friend. It’s like a black hole.
‘Janice’s sister had died from leukemia and she saw what was coming.’
The news left Mr Hunter’s daughter Lesley, who lives in Norwich, in tears as she told MailOnline: ‘I’m just shocked and stunned. We are devastated and just don’t know how this has happened.’ Pictured: David Hunter with his wife Janice (centre) and their daughter Lesley (left)
Earlier this month, Mr Hunter’s defence lawyers were led to believe that the grandfather would plead guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter. But the Attorney General in Cyprus went against that agreement today and continued with a murder trial.
Former miner David’s UK defence team led by Michael Polak, from the campaign group Justice Abroad, told MailOnline today: ‘We are very disappointed by the decision of the prosecution to go back on the agreed facts that they had put forward and which had been agreed between the parties so that the charge could be changed to manslaughter.
‘It is clear that the prosecution in this case is attempting to ensure that Mr Hunter receives the highest possible sentence and to prevent mitigating factors, which arise from the evidence in the case, from being put before the Court.
‘We entered into dialogue with the prosecution in good faith and unfortunately it appears that the case against Mr Hunter is being treated like a game by the Cypriot authorities.
‘Getting justice in Cyprus is always difficult as we have experienced in the past in cases of foreign nationals who have appeared here, however we will continue to fight for David, who continues to suffer, to ensure he gets the best possible result in this very sad case.’
The Attorney General in Cyprus decided to go against what was previously agreed, so the murder trial proceeded instead and Paphos Assize Court heard evidence from the Mayor of Tremithousa.
He stated that they were popular and trusted neighbours, were in a loving relationship, and that Janice’s pain from her condition increased as time went on.
Cyprus is an Orthodox Christian country where euthanasia is forbidden although MPs are considering debating a new law to allow it in extreme cases
Last week in an intervention state prosecutor Andreas Hadjikyrou told the Observer:’It’s sensitive. We don’t want to send the wrong message. We don’t want to [convey] the message that it is justifiable for someone to kill their loved one because they are sick and in pain.”
The case has now been adjourned for a legal ruling on Thursday, when the court will set dates for the rest of the proceedings.
The family is raising funds to assist with legal costs, and so far more than £26,000 has been donated.
To donate go to: https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/help-bring-david-home/
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