David Hunter Gives Evidence in Trial within Trial which is to Continue on Thursday 26 January 2023
JUSTICE ABROAD
“Here When You Need Us”
Justice Abroad represents Mr David Hunter, a 75-year-old British man who was facing murder charges in Cyprus after the death of his wife who was suffering from terminal blood cancer. Justice Abroad is working with Cypriot lawyers Nicoletta Charalambidou, an experienced human rights advocate, and Ritsa Pekri, a criminal law expert on this case.
Today, 18 January 2023, the voire dire, trial within trial, continued in relation to whether Mr Hunter was in a fit state to be interviewed by the Police on 18 December 2022 as no psychiatric assessment was carried out before this took place. When Mr Hunter was eventually seen by a psychiatrist on 21 January 2023 he was sectioned and sent to a psychiatric hospital for 10 days. The defence argue that on top of this failure to psychologically assess Mr Hunter before interview, even on the prosecution case, there has been no unambiguous waiver of his right to a lawyer as required by the European Court of Human Rights.
Today the prosecution called a General Practitioner from ICU at Paphos Hospital to give evidence. He saw the defendant for 20 minutes when he was brought to the hospital on 18 January 2022. He confirmed that he was not in a position to undertake a psychological diagnosis. Following this the Prosecution called a psychiatrist who did not carry out an assessment until 21 December 2021, some time after Mr Hunter had been interviewed by the Police. She confirmed that she did not carry out a full diagnosis and after seeing Mr Hunter, she committed him to a psychiatric hospital. Mr Hunter gave evidence and a short video which showed him in a dazed state when called by his daughter on the phone.
The voire dire is set to continue on Thursday 26 January 2023 with the evidence of Dr Vivek Furtado, head of forensic psychiatry at the Under of Warwick will give evidence on this point.
Michael Polak, director of Justice Abroad, has stated that:
“It is remarkable that Mr Hunter, who had attempted to commit suicide and who is an elderly man living abroad, was interviewed by the Police days before any psychiatric examination was carried out. When such an examination was eventually undertaken, Mr Hunter was sectioned to a mental hospital for 10 days suggesting that he was suffering psychologically at the time.
Dr Furtado’s report is clear, because of David’s psychological state, he would not have known what was happening nor could he properly understand the consequences of waiving his rights, such as the right to a lawyer and the right to silence. We say that there are a number of strong arguments that mean that the statements should be excluded.
The delays in this case, which are no fault of the defence, occasion further costs for Mr Hunter. We thank those from the United Kingdom, Cyprus, and the rest of the world for their support for his Crowd Justice Campaign.”
For any questions in relation to this case please contact Justice Abroad by email at contact@JusticeAbroad.co.uk or phone on +44 (0)203 488 2316.
Notes to Editors
Justice Abroad, www.justiceabroad.co.uk has been set up to help those trying to find their way through foreign justice systems with all the associated hurdles that presents, to represent those facing gross breaches of their human rights no matter where this takes place, and to advise and assist the victims of crimes as to how to achieve justice.
Justice Abroad, run by international lawyer Michael Polak, has assembled a team of top investigators, lawyers, and support staff to provide unparalleled support, advice and guidance, legal, advocacy, and investigatory service for your Justice Abroad issues anywhere in the world. The Justice Abroad team with their trusted international pool of multilingual experts, their networks, and media contacts and their well-documented determination to leave no stone unturned in the search for the truth and justice for families who have been denied it are here to provide that much needed support for families and individuals in their time of need.