Trial of Briton in wife's 'mercy killing' begins before Paphos Assize Court

[Paphos Life]

The trial of a 74-year-old British man who said he killed his wife to spare her the suffering caused by leukemia begins on Thursday before Paphos Assize Court. The man had confessed to killing his wife, 75, on December 22 in their home in Tremithousa, Paphos. ...

Read the article and chat about it below...

[emgee]

So sad.

[jeba]

It is indeed. The man's team want the charge to be assisted suicide rather than murder, though the former would be hard to establish without written evidence from the deceased or corroborative evidence from friends/neighbours that that was what the deceased wanted.

Part of the problem is that assisted suicide is also illegal in Cyprus. Even suicide is (if you survive, of course). It seems the separation of state and Church isn´t a thing and enlightenment hasn´t fully arrived in Cyprus.

[WHL]

Also there is the normal pre and during trial remarks on social medias such as this taking sides. It would appear from here and other sites the word sad is used constantly. Maybe we should let the course of the law take effect as the person may actually be a pretty deranged killer, or indeed was the ultimate act of compassion in a true love story.

But thats for the courts (whether you agree with them or not) and for any appeal system.

You are spot on, all we can do is speculate, a court will have all the facts to decide on,
on a side note, talk is easy, I would do this or I would do that, utter ******* only if you are in someone's unfortunately situation, will you then know what you are, or are not capable off, my heart goes out to any one faced with this decision.

[Steve - SJD]

It seems the separation of state and Church isn´t a thing and enlightenment hasn´t fully arrived in Cyprus.

... except of course that it isn't legal in that many other countries either - regardless of the Church.

It would appear from here and other sites the word sad is used constantly.

Their daughter has created a funding page to try and raise funds for the legal fees - she does
go into a little more of the background. Of course though as you point out it will ultimately be
the court that decides based on everything before them.

Cheers

Steve

[galexinda]

Also there is the normal pre and during trial remarks on social medias such as this taking sides. It would appear from here and other sites the word sad is used constantly. Maybe we should let the course of the law take effect as the person may actually be a pretty deranged killer, or indeed was the ultimate act of compassion in a true love story.

But thats for the courts (whether you agree with them or not) and for any appeal system.

What a ridiculous thing to even suggest,
I’m pretty sure that if this gentleman was as you say a deranged killer, it would have come to light before he got to 74.
Sad is very definitely a word I would use to describe the situation

Apart from the husband and wife no one else knows the true situation - and many people are good at keeping it that way, even from close family and friends.

[trevnhil]

It is a shame that there is not Free Legal Aid here for those that need it

[Steve - SJD]

Their daughter is, as you can imagine, beside herself at the moment and trying to do the best she can:

Daughter of man charged with murdering wife in Cyprus says she feels likes she's lost both parents

Whilst I appreciate the legalities involved in all this - I do wonder, given the circumstances, whether he
could be treated with some compassion based on what is already known.

As he is no danger to others, is there any benefit to keeping him locked up until the trial?

Personally, from what I have seen so far, placing him under house arrest with an ankle tag would be
a more compassionate approach given the circumstances and his age/health.

Cheers

Steve

[trevnhil]

I would have to agree about releasing him to be tagged at home

[Dominic]

I'm locking this now. Speculation on pending legal cases doesn't achieve anything, and without knowing the full story I would rather it was discussed elsewhere.