David Hunter, a retired British miner and expatriate, was recently released from a Cyprus prison on Monday after being sentenced to two years for the manslaughter of his terminally ill wife, Janice, whom he had been married to for 52 years and who was battling blood cancer.
Following his release, the 76-year-old emotionally visited his wife's grave for the first time since her passing. The cemetery is located just minutes away from their home in Tremithousa, a quaint village near the coastal town of Paphos.
The couple's daughter disclosed that her father may extend his stay in Cyprus to be close to his wife's final resting place and "say his goodbyes properly." However, David Hunter had been unable to visit the grave earlier due to his hospitalization after Janice's death in 2021 following a failed suicide attempt, eventually leading to his custody and prosecution for her death.
After spending 19 months in prison, Mr Hunter was acquitted of premeditated murder but found guilty of manslaughter. His two-year jail sentence was cut short as he was allowed to walk free just 15 minutes after being sentenced by the Paphos District Court, considering his time already served and good conduct.
Accompanied by Michael Polak from Justice Abroad, who represented him during the trial, David Hunter paid his heartfelt tribute to his late wife's grave, clutching a bouquet of flowers. He knelt beside the grave, appearing to be deeply moved, and spent approximately half an hour at the site.
Lesley Cawthorne, their daughter, shared on Monday that her father was likely to remain in Cyprus initially to be near his wife's grave and to bid her a proper farewell. During the year-long trial, David Hunter recounted how his wife had "cried and begged" him to end her life due to her suffering from blood cancer. Tearfully, he admitted that he would have never taken her life if she had not asked him to do so.
He demonstrated in court how he had fulfilled her request by placing his hands over her mouth and nose when she became "hysterical." Following this tragic event, David Hunter attempted suicide by overdosing but was fortunately saved by timely medical intervention.
Speaking to reporters from the steps of the Paphos court after his release, Mr Hunter expressed gratitude to all the people who supported him, especially his mates and workmates, emphasizing the close bond that exists among those who work in a colliery.
In response to inquiries about how he was feeling, he struggled to find the words to describe his emotions, acknowledging the immense pressure he faced during the two years of uncertainty regarding the case's outcome.
