David Hunter: British husband jailed for killing wife in Cyprus

David Hunter, 76, has been jailed for killing his ill wife in Cyprus but the British ex-pat will be released from prison in weeks. 

He has been sentenced to two years for the manslaughter of his wife Janice who was suffering from blood cancer. Hunter was cleared of her murder after the court found she had “begged” him to end her life at their home near Paphos in December 2021. 

Michael Polak, the director of Justice Abroad, which is representing Hunter, said he would be released on 18 August at the latest, although he could be let out earlier for good behaviour.

His legal team had argued he should be given a suspended sentence, in a case which was a legal first in the country.

In 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”.

The court heard it was Mrs Hunter’s “wish” to die and that her husband “had only feelings of love for her”.