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| David Hunter: Murder accused 'didn't tell wife he was about to kill her' | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| David Hunter has been in custody in Cyprus for 16 months | David Hunter has been in custody in Cyprus for 16 months |
| A man accused of murdering his terminally ill wife did not tell her was about to kill her in case she changed her mind, a court has heard. | |
| David Hunter's wife Janice, 74, died of asphyxiation in December 2021 at their home near Paphos, Cyprus. | David Hunter's wife Janice, 74, died of asphyxiation in December 2021 at their home near Paphos, Cyprus. |
| Lawyers for the 75-year-old retired Northumberland miner say Mrs Hunter's death was assisted suicide. | Lawyers for the 75-year-old retired Northumberland miner say Mrs Hunter's death was assisted suicide. |
| Paphos District Court heard he told a psychiatrist he had kept his intention to kill his wife from her. | Paphos District Court heard he told a psychiatrist he had kept his intention to kill his wife from her. |
| The three judges were reminded that the defendant admitted killing his wife, before trying to take his own life. | The three judges were reminded that the defendant admitted killing his wife, before trying to take his own life. |
| Clinical psychiatrist Katerina Stylianiduo had examined him shortly after Mrs Hunter, who had blood cancer, died. | Clinical psychiatrist Katerina Stylianiduo had examined him shortly after Mrs Hunter, who had blood cancer, died. |
| She said Mr Hunter told her he did not tell his wife what he was about to do, in case she had a change of heart. | She said Mr Hunter told her he did not tell his wife what he was about to do, in case she had a change of heart. |
| Following a heated exchange, the defence asked Ms Stylianiduo if she explained to him she may appear as a court witness at a later date. | Following a heated exchange, the defence asked Ms Stylianiduo if she explained to him she may appear as a court witness at a later date. |
| She said she did not feel she needed to at that point. | |
| At court: | At court: |
| Fiona Trott - BBC North of England Correspondent in Paphos | Fiona Trott - BBC North of England Correspondent in Paphos |
| David Hunter looks weary. The pensioner has already been in custody for 16 months and he tells me he's confused about today's hearing. | David Hunter looks weary. The pensioner has already been in custody for 16 months and he tells me he's confused about today's hearing. |
| He says he wasn't sure who the psychiatrists were when he spoke to them shortly after killing his wife in December 2021. | He says he wasn't sure who the psychiatrists were when he spoke to them shortly after killing his wife in December 2021. |
| He's not just tired with how long the trial is taking, he's also frustrated. | He's not just tired with how long the trial is taking, he's also frustrated. |
| "I just feel like I haven't had my say," he explains. | "I just feel like I haven't had my say," he explains. |
| Today's hearing has been intense at times. | Today's hearing has been intense at times. |
| Outside court, Mr Hunter has been sitting quietly with his lawyer, planning the next hearing. | Outside court, Mr Hunter has been sitting quietly with his lawyer, planning the next hearing. |
| It's hard and it's hard for his family in the UK. It's just over a year since the court process started and they're still grieving. | It's hard and it's hard for his family in the UK. It's just over a year since the court process started and they're still grieving. |
| David Hunter killed his terminally ill wife of 56 years at their home in Tremithousa, Cyprus | David Hunter killed his terminally ill wife of 56 years at their home in Tremithousa, Cyprus |
| Mr Hunter is on trial for murder after a plea deal on the lesser charge of manslaughter collapsed in December. | Mr Hunter is on trial for murder after a plea deal on the lesser charge of manslaughter collapsed in December. |
| Mr and Mrs Hunter had moved from Ashington, Northumberland, to Paphos 20 years ago. | Mr and Mrs Hunter had moved from Ashington, Northumberland, to Paphos 20 years ago. |
| His legal team say she begged him to end her life and have argued it was an assisted suicide. | |
| The trial will resume on Monday when the prosecution is due to hear from another psychiatrist who examined Mr Hunter after the killing. | |
| Follow BBC North East & Cumbria on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC North East & Cumbria on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Cyprus | Cyprus |
| Ashington | Ashington |