British man in Cyprus faces murder trial after refusal of plea bargain

David Hunter not able to admit lesser charge of manslaughter over death of his terminally ill wife, Janice

An elderly Briton accused of murdering his terminally ill wife in Cyprus has been denied the chance to plead guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter, almost a year to the day after Janice Hunter died.

The state prosecutor Andreas Hadjikyrou said he could not accept a deal that would have allowed David Hunter, aged 76, to make the guilty plea, which had raised hopes of the retiree being released by Christmas.