British grandfather faces life in a Cyprus jail for killing his terminally ill wife

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.  

This is a breaking news story, more to follow…