David Hunter: Appeal against Cyprus manslaughter verdict begins

David Hunter was freed from prison after being found guilty of his wife's manslaughter

A prosecution appeal case against the verdict and sentence of a man who was freed from prison after killing his seriously ill wife has begun.

David Hunter, 76, was accused of murdering his wife Janice at their home in Cyprus in 2021 but was convicted of manslaughter and released from prison.

It is understood Mr Hunter, from Ashington, Northumberland, could face new charges of premeditated murder.

The date set for the appeal hearing could take place in April or May.

Mr Hunter, from Ashington, Northumberland, told his trial that he suffocated his 74-year-old wife after she "begged" him to as she was suffering from a rare form of blood cancer.

David and Janice Hunter retired to Cyprus 20 years ago

A three-judge panel accepted the defence case that he had spontaneously acted "out of love" for his wife.

He spent 19 months in prison before being found guilty of manslaughter, but cleared of the more serious charge of premeditated murder.

On Tuesday the prosecution appeal against Mr Hunter's acquittal for murder and his sentence for manslaughter came before the Court of Appeal in Nicosia.

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Michael Polak, director of Justice Abroad, which is representing Mr Hunter, said the court ordered that the prosecution file its arguments within two months and the defence respond within two months of that.

At that point, the date will be set for the appeal hearing which is likely to take place in April or May.

David Hunter visited his wife Janice's grave the day after being released from prison

Mr Polak said: "After spending more than 19 months on trial and in custody in Nicosia prison, when the Assize Court of Paphos finally found David Hunter not guilty of murder in July and sentenced him for manslaughter resulting in his immediate release, we thought that the legal proceedings were over for him.

"For anyone, but especially someone of David's age, it is obviously very stressful to have the possibility of being sent back to prison for life hanging over their head," he added.

Mr Polak said although he was "disappointed with the decision to pursue David further", his team "would continue to fight for him".