AG appeals David Hunter’s two-year sentence for killing wife (Updated)

The attorney-general’s office filed an appeal on Thursday over Briton David Hunter’s two-year sentence for killing his wife, who suffered from a form of blood cancer.

The appeal is on both the grounds of Hunter’s sentence as well the verdict. He was found guilty of manslaughter rather than premeditated murder.

Hunter was released from prison earlier this month and the attorney general’s office had 10 days to file an appeal – which ended on Thursday.

The sentence is being appealed on the grounds that it is insufficient. The manslaughter verdict is also filed in the appeal meaning Hunter will once again face charges of premeditated murder.

Hunter was on trial for premeditated murder for the killing of his wife Janice Hunter in their Paphos home when she was 74. He suffocated her to death and has always maintained he did it to end her suffering, that came as a result of her MDS – a form of blood cancer.

The judges however acquitted him of the charge and instead found him guilty of manslaughter, sentencing him to two years in jail.

The killing took place on December 2021 and Hunter had been in prison since. He was released on the same day as his sentencing due to time served.

His lawyer Michael Polak issued a statement expressing his disappointment with the developments.

“We are obviously very disappointed with the Attorney General’s decision to appeal today which gets in the way of David getting on with his life. He has spent 19 months in prison and faced legal proceedings over that period that would be difficult for anyone, but especially for someone of his age.

“This is a very sad matter; however, it is difficult to see how the continued pursuit of David assists anyone.

We will continue to fight for David before the Supreme Court of Cyprus as we have done throughout the lengthy mission to free David.