David Hunter found not guilty of murdering terminally-ill wife in Cyprus but convicted of manslaughter

David Hunter has been found not guilty of murdering his terminally-ill wife in Cyprus – but was found guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter.

Janice Hunter, 74, died of asphyxiation in December at the couple’s retirement home near the coastal resort of Paphos.

Hunter, a 76-year-old former coal miner from Northumberland, admitted killing his wife but denied murder.

He told a Cyprus court she had blood cancer and “begged him” to end her life.

Hunter’s confession was deemed as having been lawfully obtained and was allowed to be used in evidence against him, despite opposition from the defence.

A deal to reduce the charge to manslaughter also collapsed last year after prosecutors wouldn’t accept his claim that his wife asked him to kill her unless he provided proof.

A three-judge panel delivered the verdict in Paphos on Friday.

During the trial, a judge also dismissed a request to call a psychiatrist to give evidence, who said Hunter was suffering dissociation at the time of the incident.

The court found Hunter was lucid and aware of what was happening, demonstrated by the fact he took pills and called his brother after killing his wife.

The couple’s daughter, Lesley Cawthorne, said the last “19 months has taken a huge toll” on her father.

She said the family has been “worn down” by the long trial.