Briton faces life in Cyprus jail for killing his terminally ill wife

British grandfather faces life in a Cyprus jail for killing his terminally ill wife after manslaughter plea deal is thrown out and murder trial announced

• David Hunter, 75, said he killed terminally ill wife Janice, 74, at home in Paphos
• Lawyers agreed to allow Hunter to plea to a reduced charge of manslaughter
• But today, plea deal was thrown out and a murder trial has been announced

A British grandfather faces life in a Cyprus jail for killing his terminally ill wife after his manslaughter plea deal was thrown out.

David Hunter, 75, originally from Northumberland, said he killed his wife Janice, 74, at their home in Paphos in December 2021 at her request as she was suffering from terminal blood cancer. 

The prosecution and defence agreed last month to allow Hunter to plea to a reduced charge of manslaughter for killing his wife of 46 years.

But today, the plea deal was thrown out and a murder trial has been announced, meaning Hunter could face life in prison.

British pensioner David Hunter is escorted to a custody van at Paphos Assize Court in Cyprus after his hearing was adjourned on December 5

David Hunter, 75, (left) originally from Northumberland, was accused of murdering his wife of 46 years, Janice, (right) at their home in Paphos, in December 2021 

Janice died in December 2021 at the couple’s retirement home in Paphos, where many of the island’s 60,000 British expatriates live. The details of how she died have not been made public.

Janice was on heavy medication for a type of terminal blood cancer at the time. 

Hunter, a former British miner, said in September after a court appearance that Janice had been diagnosed with cancer in 2016 and after watching her sister die of the disease, she ‘knew what was coming’.

Hunter, who also tried to take his own life on the same day as killing Janice, said outside the court: ‘She wasn’t just my wife she was my best friend. It’s like a black hole.

‘Janice’s sister had died from leukemia and she saw what was coming.’

This is a breaking news story, more to follow… 

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