Ashington ex-miner visits wife's grave for first time since being cleared of murder
76 year old David Hunter was sentenced to 2 years in prison for manslaughter, but released immediately for time served
Last updated 1st Aug 2023
A former miner from Northumberland's been to visit his wife's grave for the first time, since being cleared of her murder.
76 year old David Hunter was freed from prison in Cyprus on Monday, after being sentenced to 2 years in jail, at Paphos District Court, for the manslaughter of Janice Hunter, who he had been married to for 52 years.
After her death in December 2021, Mrs Hunter was buried at a cemetery minutes from the couple's home in Tremithousa - a small village near the coastal resort town of Paphos.
But Hunter, 76, has been unable to visit the grave as he was admitted to hospital immediately after Mrs Hunter's death following a failed suicide attempt, then taken into custody and prosecuted for murder.
The pensioner spent 19 months in prison before being cleared of premeditated murder but found guilty of manslaughter by a three-judge panel.
He was jailed for two years but allowed to walk free within 15 minutes of being sentenced at Paphos District Court due to time already served and good behaviour.
On Tuesday morning, he paid an emotional first visit to Mrs Hunter's grave.
Hunter could not initially find the grave and was guided to it by Michael Polak of Justice Abroad, which represented him during his trial.
Carrying a bouquet of pink, purple and yellow flowers, he immediately knelt down by the grave and appeared to be silently shaking.
Hunter stayed at the site for around half an hour.
The couple's daughter, Lesley Cawthorne, previously said she believes that, rather than return to the UK, her father will initially choose to stay in Cyprus to be near Mrs Hunter's grave and "say his goodbyes properly".
Hunter, from Ashington, told his trial, which lasted for more than a year, that his wife "cried and begged" him to end her life as she suffered from blood cancer.
He broke down in tears as he said he would "never in a million years" have taken Mrs Hunter's life unless she had asked him to.
He showed the court how he held his hands over his wife's mouth and nose and said he eventually decided to grant her wish after she became "hysterical".
Judges heard he then tried to kill himself by taking an overdose but medics arrived in time to save him.