British man denies murder of terminally ill wife in Cyprus
GuardianSep 21, 2021
Brit Charged With Killing Terminally Ill Wife Denies Murder
Image copyright: Facebook [via The Guardian]
The Facts
Lawyers for a man charged with murdering his wife in Cyprus are seeking to have the charge altered to assisted suicide.
David Hunter, a 74-year-old ex-miner from Northumberland, is accused of killing his 75-year-old wife who had been suffering from terminal blood cancer.
The Spin
Narrative A
Murder is not an appropriate charge. He acted to free his wife from the immense pain of her illness - the couple's daughter has testified to her parents' devotion to each other and her mother's desire to die.
Narrative B
It's unclear whether Hunter had his wife's consent and, regardless of her wishes, euthanasia is still illegal in Cyprus. He was recently ordered to attend a psychiatric facility in response to the killing and attempted overdose, and his actions demand intense investigation.