Retired miner David Hunter's hopes he shall be free of jail when he's sentenced for killing his spouse after she 'begged' him to finish her struggles.

Hunter, 76, shall be sentenced in Cyprus in a listening to that's anticipated to final for 2 days. He has beforehand been cleared of the extra critical cost of premeditated homicide.

His authorized group will argue he needs to be free of jail. They declare there may be “no point in keeping him in prison any longer”.

Hunter, from Ashington, Northumberland, had been on trial for killing his partner of 52 years, Janice, who died of asphyxiation at their house close to the coastal resort city of Paphos in December 2021.

Hunter, who has been in custody for 19 months, informed the court docket she “cried and begged” him to finish her life as she suffered from blood most cancers. The couple’s daughter Lesley Cawthorne mentioned the household was “apprehensive” forward of the sentencing listening to.

She informed the PA news company: “We are hoping for time served or a suspended sentence but are very aware that there’s a chance he’ll remain in custody. We’re not counting our chickens.”

Ms Cawthorne mentioned her father had been “quietly relieved” since final week’s verdict, however was “not especially” hopeful about his sentence.

She added: “He doesn’t want to allow himself to get his hopes up.

“He’s grateful that the judges seem to have understood what they went through and believe that he acted out of love.”

Michael Polak, director of Justice Abroad, which is representing Hunter, informed PA: “In this case we are putting forward case law from across common law jurisdictions such as Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and the United Kingdom, given that no cases such as this have ever been dealt with in Cyprus. In these jurisdictions, the courts have found that suspended sentences are appropriate where the facts are similar to those in David’s case.

“Last week the court found in David’s favour on all matters including that Janice had requested that he help her die, that he had acted because of his love for her, and that he then tried to end his own life.We will be submitting to the court that a suspended sentence is appropriate in this case, given the type of offence, David’s age, the fact that he has spent 19 months in custody, and his previous good character.

“There is no point in keeping David in prison any longer.”

In May, Hunter broke down in tears as he informed his trial, which lasted greater than a yr, that he would “never in a million years” have taken his spouse’s life except she had requested him to. He added: “She wasn’t just my wife, she was my best friend.”

Hunter confirmed the court docket how he held his palms over his spouse’s mouth and nostril and mentioned he ultimately determined to grant his spouse’s want after she turned “hysterical”.