The trial of 74-year-old Briton David Hunter was delayed for the sixth time on Friday, after his lawyers requested more time for procedural matters. Hunter admitted to killing his wife Janice, 75, who had leukaemia, in their home in Tremithousa in Paphos, last December. He said he could no longer...
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Briton's trial for killing his wife delayed for sixth time
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Paphos Life
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Re: Briton's trial for killing his wife delayed for sixth time
We've mentioned this sad case on here before. According to a UK newspaper (D.Telegraph) his family, and friends in the UK are very much hoping that the next time his case comes to court, the charge against him could and should be reduced from Murder to Manslaughter. The poor man aged 74, has been languishing in the Nicosia Prison for months now. He is thought to be no risk to anyone. If the charge against him is reduced, he could be given a suspended sentence. Which would mean that he should and could be repatriated to the UK and his waiting family.
I hope so.
Dee
I hope so.
Dee
Re: Briton's trial for killing his wife delayed for sixth time
A difficult one.
As I understand it, Murder is premeditated killing, Manslaughter is not. It seems that the motive here, was to end his wife's pain, but was it premeditated or not? I think that might be one problem.
Until the trial, none of us can know the full facts of the case. Surely if this man had lived in Cyprus any length of time, he must have known how long things take to get to court. Very unfortunate for him, sadly. Had he lived in the UK, things may well have been different.
As I understand it, Murder is premeditated killing, Manslaughter is not. It seems that the motive here, was to end his wife's pain, but was it premeditated or not? I think that might be one problem.
Until the trial, none of us can know the full facts of the case. Surely if this man had lived in Cyprus any length of time, he must have known how long things take to get to court. Very unfortunate for him, sadly. Had he lived in the UK, things may well have been different.
It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog.
Re: Briton's trial for killing his wife delayed for sixth time
… And, in the meanwhile, the judges and lawyers are raking in his money. If he has a "nest egg", it will be worthless by the time he has paid these delaying parasites.
Re: Briton's trial for killing his wife delayed for sixth time
What has the Judge got to do with it? The trial was delayed at the request of the defendents lawyers.
Frankly, that's one thing I don't understand at all about the Cypriot legal system. If a lawyer isn't ready, it should be tough. But in Cyprus, cases get delayed ad-nauseum by lawyers on either side pushing for more time. It is wrong.
Frankly, that's one thing I don't understand at all about the Cypriot legal system. If a lawyer isn't ready, it should be tough. But in Cyprus, cases get delayed ad-nauseum by lawyers on either side pushing for more time. It is wrong.
Web Designer / Developer. Currently working on Paphos Life.
Living in Polemi, Cyprus with my wife and daughter.
Living in Polemi, Cyprus with my wife and daughter.
Re: Briton's trial for killing his wife delayed for sixth time
It is the judge who decides an adjournment. If he did not approve what the lawyer's request, he could easily tell the lawyers that he is rejecting the reasons and that the trial must start there and then. It would then be up to the lawyers, if they don't like the verdict, it would be difficult to appeal because that would require much stronger evidence to be introduced.
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Steve - SJD
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Re: Briton's trial for killing his wife delayed for sixth time
Legal fees have been raised via crowdfunding - the defence asked for the delay as the charge has changed -
"At a hearing on Friday, the prosecution and defence announced they had agreed facts in the case and Mr Hunter will enter a guilty plea to manslaughter on 5 December, according to Justice Abroad, which is representing the Briton."
Michael Polak, director of Justice Abroad, said: "We are very pleased that the murder charge is no longer on the table as our objective all along has been to get David out of prison and back home as soon as possible."
Cheers
Steve
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memory man
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Re: Briton's trial for killing his wife delayed for sixth time
UK pensioner accused of killing wife in Paphos to face manslaughter charge
David Hunter, a British pensioner who admitted to killing his wife in Paphos in 2021, is set to face charges for manslaughter after the defence and prosecution agreed to change the initial premeditated murder charge during a court hearing on Monday.
The change will have to be approved by the Attorney General before being ratified.
Hunter will remain in custody until December 13, when the trial will take place.
According to CNA, Hunter is expected to plead guilty to the manslaughter charges.
Hunter, 74, has admitted to killing his terminally ill wife, Janice, who suffered from blood cancer in Tremithousa, Paphos in 2021. He allegedly suffocated her and then tried to end his own life by taking an overdose.
He said his wife had asked him to help her die.
Euthanasia is illegal in Cyprus.
https://in-cyprus.philenews.com/news/lo ... er-charge/
David Hunter, a British pensioner who admitted to killing his wife in Paphos in 2021, is set to face charges for manslaughter after the defence and prosecution agreed to change the initial premeditated murder charge during a court hearing on Monday.
The change will have to be approved by the Attorney General before being ratified.
Hunter will remain in custody until December 13, when the trial will take place.
According to CNA, Hunter is expected to plead guilty to the manslaughter charges.
Hunter, 74, has admitted to killing his terminally ill wife, Janice, who suffered from blood cancer in Tremithousa, Paphos in 2021. He allegedly suffocated her and then tried to end his own life by taking an overdose.
He said his wife had asked him to help her die.
Euthanasia is illegal in Cyprus.
https://in-cyprus.philenews.com/news/lo ... er-charge/
Re: Briton's trial for killing his wife delayed for sixth time
Let's hope that his new trial on the 13th, will go better for David Hunter.That the court will be lenient and agree to the verdict of manslaughter and that he will be released even if its a suspended sentence. The poor man has suffered enough and being an inmate in Cyprus's over crowded prison must also have been an ordeal.
I hope that he will be released and allowed to go back to the UK and his family. In time for Christmas.
Dee
I hope that he will be released and allowed to go back to the UK and his family. In time for Christmas.
Dee
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memory man
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Re: Briton's trial for killing his wife delayed for sixth time
British man assisting sick wife to die expected to plead guilty to manslaughter on Tuesday
A 75-year-old British man on trial for causing the death last year of his terminally-ill wife, Janice, in coastal Paphos is expected to plead guilty to manslaughter on Tuesday.
David Hunter faced a charge of premeditated murder but defence lawyers are hopeful the court will suspend any sentence it hands down to their client after he pleads guilty to manslaughter.
They had asked the island’s attorney-general to charge the 75-year-old only with assisted suicide in order to keep him from serving time in prison — a request they said was denied.
The court had granted an adjournment until Tuesday when Hunter’s defense will also argue for mitigation.
The court is expected to pass sentence a few days later, with defense lawyers hoping that this will happen before Christmas.
Although manslaughter carries a maximum life sentence, it’s unlikely Hunter will receive a long prison term.
Insiders said the prosecution won’t object to the Briton serving out any prison sentence in the U.K.
There is no precedent for such “euthanasia, manslaughter-type cases” in Cyprus.
Janice, 74, died in December 2021 at the couple’s retirement home in Paphos. She was on heavy medication for a type of terminal blood cancer.
https://in-cyprus.philenews.com/news/lo ... n-tuesday/
A 75-year-old British man on trial for causing the death last year of his terminally-ill wife, Janice, in coastal Paphos is expected to plead guilty to manslaughter on Tuesday.
David Hunter faced a charge of premeditated murder but defence lawyers are hopeful the court will suspend any sentence it hands down to their client after he pleads guilty to manslaughter.
They had asked the island’s attorney-general to charge the 75-year-old only with assisted suicide in order to keep him from serving time in prison — a request they said was denied.
The court had granted an adjournment until Tuesday when Hunter’s defense will also argue for mitigation.
The court is expected to pass sentence a few days later, with defense lawyers hoping that this will happen before Christmas.
Although manslaughter carries a maximum life sentence, it’s unlikely Hunter will receive a long prison term.
Insiders said the prosecution won’t object to the Briton serving out any prison sentence in the U.K.
There is no precedent for such “euthanasia, manslaughter-type cases” in Cyprus.
Janice, 74, died in December 2021 at the couple’s retirement home in Paphos. She was on heavy medication for a type of terminal blood cancer.
https://in-cyprus.philenews.com/news/lo ... n-tuesday/
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memory man
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Re: Briton's trial for killing his wife delayed for sixth time
'Brit who killed wife has trial delayed for seventh, and final, time
David Hunter, the 74-year-old Briton who admitted to killing his wife suffering from leukemia, on Tuesday had his trial postponed for the seventh time this year.
The move came after prosecution called on Paphos criminal court to grant their team more time to review the developments after last week’s decision to change the charge from pre-meditated murder to manslaughter.
Andreas Hadjikyrou, of the prosecution, stated that the legal services had requested more time to review the new charges as they now anticipate Hunter will plead guilty to the charge of manslaughter.
The defendant’s lawyers, Nikoleta Charalambidou and Ritsa Pekri, did not object to the request but expressed their surprise.
The court subsequently approved the postponement but emphasised that this will be the final delay in the drawn-out proceedings.
Last December, Hunter admitted to killing his wife Janice, who had leukemia, because he said he could no longer bear to see her suffer.
He suffocated her by blocking her mouth and nose with his hands while she was sitting in an armchair and then tried to kill himself.
Last week, Charalambidou and Hadjikyrou agreed that the mitigating circumstances in the case allow for the charge to be manslaughter instead of pre-meditated murder, as the prosecution had initially asked.
The mitigation of the charge will now have to be approved by the attorney general before being ratified.
Earlier this year, Hunter’s daughter Lesley Cawthorne urged judges to show him mercy.
“I understand they have to apply the law but I would like them to see beyond that and show some compassion,” she told the Daily Mail.
“My father is 75 years old, he is not a risk to society, he is not a risk to anyone, in fact the only person he is at risk to is himself.
“We just want him home with his family as the last few months have been so traumatic for all of us.”
https://cyprus-mail.com/2022/12/13/brit ... inal-time/
David Hunter, the 74-year-old Briton who admitted to killing his wife suffering from leukemia, on Tuesday had his trial postponed for the seventh time this year.
The move came after prosecution called on Paphos criminal court to grant their team more time to review the developments after last week’s decision to change the charge from pre-meditated murder to manslaughter.
Andreas Hadjikyrou, of the prosecution, stated that the legal services had requested more time to review the new charges as they now anticipate Hunter will plead guilty to the charge of manslaughter.
The defendant’s lawyers, Nikoleta Charalambidou and Ritsa Pekri, did not object to the request but expressed their surprise.
The court subsequently approved the postponement but emphasised that this will be the final delay in the drawn-out proceedings.
Last December, Hunter admitted to killing his wife Janice, who had leukemia, because he said he could no longer bear to see her suffer.
He suffocated her by blocking her mouth and nose with his hands while she was sitting in an armchair and then tried to kill himself.
Last week, Charalambidou and Hadjikyrou agreed that the mitigating circumstances in the case allow for the charge to be manslaughter instead of pre-meditated murder, as the prosecution had initially asked.
The mitigation of the charge will now have to be approved by the attorney general before being ratified.
Earlier this year, Hunter’s daughter Lesley Cawthorne urged judges to show him mercy.
“I understand they have to apply the law but I would like them to see beyond that and show some compassion,” she told the Daily Mail.
“My father is 75 years old, he is not a risk to society, he is not a risk to anyone, in fact the only person he is at risk to is himself.
“We just want him home with his family as the last few months have been so traumatic for all of us.”
https://cyprus-mail.com/2022/12/13/brit ... inal-time/
