Man charged with murder of sick woman in Cyprus’ first case involving euthanasia

Nicosia, Cyprus:

A British pensioner in Cyprus accused of murdering his terminally ill wife will plead guilty to lesser manslaughter charges to avoid a life sentence, his lawyers said on Friday.

In a trial believed to be the first on the Mediterranean island to involve euthanasia, Briton David Hunter faced up to 25 years in prison if found guilty of first-degree murder.

He appeared before Paphos Criminal Court on Friday, where judges were told a deal had been reached for him to plead guilty to manslaughter when the court reconvenes next month.

“Mr. Hunter will make a plea to manslaughter on the basis of agreed facts at the next hearing on Dec. 5,” attorney Michael Polak told reporters.

“We are very pleased that the murder charge is no longer on the table, as our goal has always been to get David out of prison and back home as quickly as possible.”

The 75-year-old former miner has been in the custody of the Cypriot authorities for almost a year.

Polak, of the UK-based Justice Abroad firm, said he hoped “the court might consider staying the final sentence” given Hunter’s “good character and long and loving relationship with his wife”.

Hunter had previously pleaded not guilty to murder, his defense argued it was an assisted suicide case.

Hunter and his wife Janice had lived together for over 50 years.

In December 2021, Janice, who suffered from advanced leukemia, allegedly urged her husband to end her life.

After his arrest, Hunter said he had finally complied with his wife’s wishes by smothering her to death in the sitting room of their rented accommodation in Tremithousa, near Paphos, on the island’s west coast.

Police found Hunter after he overdosed on prescription pills and alcohol, attempting suicide.

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