Man released from prison after killing his terminally ill wife because she ‘begged him to do it’

Retired British miner David Hunter has walked free from prison after killing his terminally ill wife.

It’s been two years since Hunter entered prison after a Cypriot judge sentenced him to manslaughter despite the former husband claiming his wife ‘begged him’ to kill her, as per Sky News.

Hunter admitted to suffocating Janice, his wife of 52 years, who was suffering from blood cancer, at their home on the Greek island in December 2021.

A judge at Paphos District Court imposed a two-year jail sentence on the ex-coaler and decided to release him as he had already spent 19 months in custody.

Family Handout

Hunter was overwhelmed with emotion when speaking to reporters outside about how he was feeling.

“I can’t describe it. I’m sorry. I wish I could, I wish I could find words to describe it but I can’t,” he said.

“When you’re under pressure for two years, not knowing which way it’s going to go.”

His daughter Lesley Cawthorne also told reporters: “Speaking to my daddy was the most amazing thing. I feel like my heart has been put back together.”

Ms Cawthorne went on to thank those who’d supported her dad.

Michael Polak of Justice Abroad, who also represented Hunter, said the group was ‘very pleased’ with the outcome.

“This has been a tragic case and difficult for all of those involved with it, but today’s decision was the right one and allows David and his family to grieve together,” he said.

The court has previously found Hunter not guilty of premeditated murder.

During mitigation last week, his defence lawyer, Ritsa Pekri, said his motive was to ‘liberate his wife from all that she was going through due to her health conditions’ and that it was her ‘wish’ to die.

She added that Hunter ‘had only feelings of love for her’.

While speaking to the judges, Hunter broke down in tears and claimed he ‘never in a million years’ would have taken his wife’s life unless she had asked him to do so.

However, he only gave in to her demands when she became ‘hysterical’.

Following the sentence, the pensioner told The Guardian he wouldn’t move from Cyrus even after her death.

“I want to stay in Cyprus,” he told the outlet.

“This is the country we chose to move to and I want to be close to her.”