Dignity in Dying statement on David Hunter sentencing

David Hunter has today (Monday 31st July 2023) been sentenced to two years in prison but has been released due to time served after spending the last 19 months in prison. On Friday 21st July 2023, Mr Hunter, from Northumberland, was found not guilty of pre-meditated murder and found guilty of manslaughter after the death of his wife Janice Hunter. Janice, who was terminally ill with blood cancer, died at the couple’s home in Cyprus in December 2021.

Please find a statement from Dignity in Dying, the UK’s leading campaign for assisted dying, which calls for a change in the law to allow this option for terminally ill, mentally competent adults, below. Please note that interviews with David Hunter’s family are not available at this time.

A spokesperson for Dignity in Dying said: “Our thoughts are with all of Janice’s family. We hope they can now fully grieve her death and process the traumatic events of the last few years.

“Without the option of safe and compassionate assisted dying laws, there will undoubtedly be more tragic cases of dying people resorting to taking matters into their own hands, with and without the assistance of loved ones. Legislation to allow for terminally ill, mentally competent adults to access this choice would bring greater security and transparency than the blanket ban on assisted dying.

“With more and more countries in Europe recognising that legalisation is far safer than banning assisted dying and proposals being considered in Scotland, Jersey and the Isle of Man, it is increasingly clear that doing nothing is simply not an option.”

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For further information and interview requests with case studies and Dignity in Dying spokespeople, please contact Molly Pike, Media and Campaigns Officer at Dignity in Dying, on 07929 731181 or email: molly.pike@dignityindying.org.uk.