A British expatriate residing in Cyprus, who was convicted of causing the death of his terminally ill wife, has passed away in a hospital, as confirmed by his family.
David Hunter, aged 78, was found guilty of manslaughter in 2023 for suffocating his wife Janice, 74, at their residence in Tremithousa, near Paphos, in December 2021. Janice, who was battling terminal blood cancer, had reportedly pleaded with Hunter for weeks to assist in ending her life.
His daughter, Lesley Cawthorne, 53, expressed sadness today over her father’s demise at a Cypriot medical facility. Hunter, a former coal miner from Ashington, Northumberland, had been experiencing deteriorating health conditions following his release from prison three years ago.
Reportedly, he was admitted to the hospital earlier this week due to a urinary tract infection, but unexpectedly passed away, according to Lesley. Following Janice’s death, Hunter had been sentenced to two years in prison, and after accounting for time served, he was released in the summer of 2023.
Remaining on the island to be near his late wife’s grave in Tremithousa, Hunter and Janice, who had been married for 52 years, had retired to Cyprus in 2002.
Lesley, a resident of Norwich, expressed deep sorrow today, stating, “We are devastated, and the support we have received over the past few years has been invaluable to us.”
The Attorney General of Cyprus had appealed both the manslaughter conviction and the sentencing of Hunter, leading to further court proceedings.
During Hunter’s trial in Paphos, it was revealed that after suffocating Janice, he had attempted to take his own life but was discovered by law enforcement officers who were alerted by Interpol following his communication with family members about the incident.
The case gained worldwide attention, sparking discussions on the topic of mercy killing.