For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails

       Please enter a valid email address

       Please enter a valid email address

       SIGN UP

       I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice

       Thanks for signing up to the

       Breaking News email

       {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

       A Cyprus court on Friday found a British man who killed his ailing wife in their home guilty of manslaughter, saying that the prosecution didn’t prove beyond reasonable doubt that the 76-year-old man committed premeditated murder.

       In a unanimous decision, the three-judge bench said that David Hunter’s decision to suffocate his 74-year-old wife Janice as she was sitting in a recliner in December 2021 was a spur-of-the-moment decision: he snapped as he could no longer stand seeing her weeping in pain.

       The court accepted witness testimony that Janice feared her blood ailment would develop into full-blown leukemia and had repeatedly pleaded with her husband to take her life because she didn’t want to share the fate of her sister who died of the disease.

       Hunter attempted to take his own life by consuming a large amount of pills after doing something “he never before thought possible - closing his hands over his wife’s mouth and nose,” the court heard, but medical staff saved his life.

       The court cited expert testimony that Janice Hunter suffered from myelodysplastic syndrome, a type of blood cancer which “to a large degree” - as much as 45% - could turn into leukemia, although there was no proof that she had indeed developed the disease because no definitive tests were conducted.

       Recommended Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide

       But the court said both husband and wife believed that Janice would develop it because of her sister's fate.

       The court also accepted that the actions of David Hunter who “loved his wife and took care of her even under the most difficult circumstances without complaint” were motivated only to end her suffering and that Janice had repeatedly asked him to end her life.

       David Hunter's earlier assurances to Janice that he would help her fulfill her wish to end her life and not suffer any more didn't indicate any premeditation, the court said.

       The court will reconvene Jul. 27 for mitigation pleas before passing sentence. The decision means Hunter avoids a maximum life sentence that a premeditated murder conviction carries.

       Michael Polak from Justice Abroad, a group that defends Britons facing legal troubles in foreign countries, said the ruling allows the court to hand down a suspended sentence which would be appropriate given the time that Hunter has already spent in custody.

       He was detained immediately after his wife's death, and has spent the intervening year and a half in prison, awaiting trial.

       "This remains a tragic case. Janice and David were in a loving relationship for over 50 years and it is clear that David did what he did out of love for Janice upon her request," Polak said in a statement.

       “We strongly believe that no proper purpose would be served by David spending any further time within Nicosia prison.”

       The prosecution said Cypriot authorities didn't want to set a precedent for any husband to kill his wife and claim after the fact and without proof that the killing was done with the wife’s consent.

       Recommended Amsterdam wants ships to moor less, votes to move terminal out of city in latest hit to tourism Swiss order hang gliders to stay away, closing air space as firefighters battle forest inferno 1 person killed, 3 others wounded in knife attack in South Korea's capital

       State prosecutor Andreas Hadjikyrou told reporters the Attorney General would examine the verdict with a view to filing an appeal.

       He said a key point of scrutiny would be about proof the couple had indeed agreed for David Hunter to take his wife's life, Hadjikyrou said.

       More about AP David Cyprus British Attorney General Nicosia Britons

       1/ 1He killed his ailing wife. A Cyprus court ruled it was manslaughter, not murder

       He killed his ailing wife. A Cyprus court ruled it was manslaughter, not murder Cyprus Briton Manslaughter

       Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved

       ？ Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article

       Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.

       Subscribe

       Already subscribed? Log in