A British man living 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 the suffocation of 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 end her suffering.
Hunter’s daughter, Lesley Cawthorne, 53, expressed the family’s sadness at his recent demise at a hospital in Cyprus. Following his release from prison three years ago, Hunter, a former coal miner from Ashington, Northumberland, had been experiencing declining health.
Reportedly admitted to the hospital this week due to a urinary tract infection, Hunter passed away unexpectedly, according to Lesley. After his wife’s death, he served a two-year prison sentence, being released in the summer of 2023 after accounting for time served.
Remaining in Cyprus to be close to Janice’s grave in Tremithousa, the couple, who had been married for 52 years, retired to the island in 2002.
Lesley, who resides in Norwich, expressed deep sorrow, stating, “We are devastated, and the support we’ve received in recent years has been invaluable to us.”
The attorney general of Cyprus had appealed both the manslaughter conviction and the sentencing of Hunter, with additional court proceedings anticipated.
During the trial in Paphos, it was revealed that after suffocating his wife, Hunter 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 garnered international attention, sparking discussions about euthanasia and compassionate end-of-life decisions.
