Nothing in David Hunter’s life is what it is. should be. Six weeks shorter of 75 years old, retired remains in Cyprus, but home This prison common cell with 11 other men. On the other end of Janice, his beloved wife, is buried on a Mediterranean island. in cemetery overlooking the sea. He was unable to visit. Worse, almost four months after her death, he is accused of deliberate murder with perspective of spend the rest of his life behind bars.
“My dad loved my mom for 56 years old,” said Leslie Cawthorne, the couple’s wife. daughterfrom her home in Norwich. “He treasured her very much. From start to finish when she was so sick and in such pain, he treated her with kindness, love and compassion. All of us want is to bring it home”.
battle do it moves in high gear on Monday when Hunter, former miner from Northumberland, will be expelled out of center of Nicosia prison to Paphos, the southern resort town, where he and his wife first looking for them”dream life” abroad.
There, before the jury, he will relive events of night of December 18, events what his lawyers say amount to “assisting suicide”, but which, in a nation heavily influenced by the Greek Orthodox Church, caused anxiety, even if they also helped lift the veil on a topic long considered taboo: euthanasia.
According to Cawthorne, within a few months, her father resisted her cancer-stricken mother’s pleas to end what had become excruciating physical pain.
Janice Hunter has been diagnosed with leukemia in 2016 and her health deteriorated after the outbreak of pandemic. Difficulties accessing treatment combined with persistent diarrhea and gradual loss of glance had made life is unbearable.
Fearing the same fate as her sister Kathleen, who experienced a painful and unworthy death from the same illness, Janice pleaded. for to end her suffering, said Cawthorne, a financial industry compliance consultant.
A week before Christmas, as his wife sat in her favorite chair in room full of ornaments, acted Hunter: he took his wife head in hands and, according to police, blocked her air transitions until the deed was done. The 70-year-old man then attempted suicide by overdosing. on prescription pills and alcohol. By the time the authorities arrived – at Hunter’s alarm brother – They found former miner barely alive in their Tremitus Maisonette in hills above Paphos. Janice was dead in her white leather chair.
For several days, doctors lavaged Hunter’s stomach, against his will until the Briton fully regained consciousness. When he came round it was to the knowledge that the moment of decision caused by the intended action of love was changed his life forever.
But Derek Wickett, the couple’s neighbor, is sure of one thing. “They thought that world of each other,” said the meek middle-earth. who also retired to Cyprus after 40 years at the Fort Dunlop tire factory. in Birmingham. “You should have heard Janice sing; she loved her garden, he said Observeropening it head over in wall between maisonettes. “Then they suddenly stopped singing. She was in such pain that she couldn’t come out. It was terrible how it’s over. We just hope they can get david home”.
Hunter’s lawyers appealed to the lawyer generalsuperior lawyer in in former British colony to intervene in what first case of kind in Cyprus. On the background of opposition to the Orthodox Church and debate in parliament over legalization of euthanasia, protection team asked that the charge be reduced to promote suicide in line with legislation elsewhere in Europe. On Friday, the request was denied.
“We collect long materials… we draw on law and guidance from other jurisdictions explaining why prosecution for murder inappropriate in circumstances of this case,” said Michael Polak, attorney with legal aid in London group Justice abroad. “These submissions were rejected, but no justification was given. in letter for This cause of action.”
Lawyers said they would continue to demand “principled action” from the prosecution. decisionso that David Hunter can return to the UK.
Ollie has family-run pub next to palm- a fringed cul-de-sac where the Hunters once lived, the emigrants didn’t want to talk about romance, which obviously overshadowed over in community. But sincere love and respect for There were no hunters in deficit.
“They were very good peoplePetros Christofi said. who presides over 1300-strong Tremitus community and rented a maisonette to a couple after they sold their apartment in Paphos to pay for Janice Health. “Ask Father Michael in the church, ask anyone here. Everyone liked them.”
It was with heavy heart, said Christofi that he had given a statement to the police on the night she died. “His clear she suffered. This is clear She was in pain. This is clear It was not murder and this clear our laws should change.”
A wooden cross marks the spot on the hillside where Janice is buried. A jug of flowers and bouquets lie on the freshest grave in cemetery full of foreign names.
“Dad is obsessed with the idea that he needs to visit his mom’s grave,” said Chowrne, 49, who said that her own heart condition prevented her from going to Cyprus.
“He considers it indecent and disrespectful that he could not go. It was impossible to grieve for Mum. All of us want it is compassion. We need Dad home so we can mourn together.”
