A BRIT has confessed to smothering his cancer-stricken wife to death before trying to take his own life as he ‘didn’t want to see her suffer', it has been reported.  

74-year-old David Hunter allegedly told Cypriot cops he'd covered wife Janice's mouth and nose as she sat in her armchair in their Paphos home after she was diagnosed with incurable leukaemia.

David then tried to end his life before being arrested at Paphos General Hospital, according to the Cyprus Mail. 

Police confirmed that the former miner from Northumberland had confessed to the killing, claiming it had been his wife’s wishes to pass peacefully after she was told her cancer was terminal, reports say.  

Authorities were said to have been alerted by Interpol at around 8pm on Saturday after David had sent a horrifying message to a family member telling them he’d killed 75-year-old Janice in their Tremithousa home.   

A relative told the Sun Online that the tragic death had been confirmed as ‘a mercy killing’ by authorities in Paphos but added: "It's been an awful shock and we'd rather not say anything at this stage."

TRAGIC END

The tragic news left close friends shocked in the Northumberland town of Ashington, where the couple lived before relocating to the village of Tremithousa nearly 20-years-ago.

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The pair, married for 52-years, fell in love with the island while holidaying there and moved after David, a former miner at Ellington Colliery, lost his job when the pit was shut down in 1994. 

Bernard McKever, 77, who worked with David at the mine told the Sun Online: “They were a lovely couple, very nice and decent people, so this is a big shock.

"They would often be out around Ashington before they moved abroad and were a very sociable, fun couple.

"I knew that Janice was ill and things weren't good but I had no idea it had got as bad as that.

"This is really terrible news, it's an absolute tragedy."

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Marina Christodoulides, a police spokeswoman on the island, said a criminal investigation had been launched. 

"An inquiry is underway regarding the motive and whether the victim's death was premeditated. Because of this, the 74-year-old Briton will be remanded in Paphos general hospital for the next seven days." 

Asked about the state of the Briton's health she told Sun Online: "I cannot speak about his psychological welfare but he is much better and faring well. He will remain at the hospital for the next week."

The incident had taken place in a village outside the resort town of Paphos, she said.   

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