Expat Killer Dies After Mercy Killing Conviction

David Hunter, a 78-year-old British expat in Cyprus, died in a hospital on the island today, his family has announced. Hunter had been found guilty of manslaughter in 2023 for the December 2021 death of his wife, Janice, 74. During his trial, it was heard that Janice, who was terminally ill with blood cancer, had pleaded with him for weeks to end her life.

Hunter, originally from Northumberland, England, was sentenced to two years in prison but was released in the summer of 2023 due to time served. He had been living in Cyprus since retiring there in 2002 with Janice, whom he was married to for 52 years. He remained on the island to stay near his late wife's grave.

Following his wife's death, Hunter had attempted suicide but was discovered by police. His daughter, Lesley Cawthorne, confirmed his recent hospital admission due to a urinary tract infection and his subsequent sudden death. The family expressed devastation but gratitude for the support received over the years. Cyprus' attorney general had appealed both the manslaughter verdict and the sentence, with further court hearings pending.