We back well be talking to we come back well be talking to the lawyer of david hunter who has now been released from prison so called prison after that so called mercy killing of his wife. Very emotive it. Emotive topic. Lets do it. Patrick, thank you. Patrick, thank you. Good afternoon from the gb newsroom. Its 3 01 members of the uks largest Teaching Union have accepted a 6. 5 pay rise for teachers in england. The for teachers in england. The National Education union says. National Education Union says. 86 of its members voted to accept the latest pay offer, with a 60 turnout. It comes after Union Members staged eight days of strike action in state schools since february in a dispute over pay education secretary Gillian Keegan has welcomed the decision as good news for teachers. Parents and children. The Prime Minister children. The Prime Minister says the planned expansion of oil and gas drilling in the nonh oil and gas drilling in the north sea is entirely consistent with the governments net zero plan. But former Energy MinisterChris Skidmore criticised the plan, saying its the wrong decision at the wrong time and that modern voters will vote with their feet as they look for policies that protect the environment. Policies that protect the environment. But speaking in aberdeenshire this morning, rishi sunak said the plan is a step in the right direction, describing it as better for Energy Security and better for jobs. When it comes to our Energy Security , we are still going to security, we are still going to need oil and gas. 25 of our energy will come from oil and gas even in 2050, far better than we get that from here at home. Better for the economy, better for our Energy Security, better for our Energy Security, better for our Energy Security, better for jobs, better for our Energy Security, better forjobs, and better for our Energy Security, better for jobs, and better for Climate Emissions, rather than shipping halfway shipping it here from halfway around country. So thats around the country. So thats why more north sea oil why weve got more north sea oil and gas licences being announced, were announced, but also were speeding our path to net speeding us on our path to net zero Carbon Capture and zero with Carbon Capture and storage. Storage. Members the conservative members of the conservative party have issued a joint letter to the chancellor concerning the natwest de banking scandal. The letter, which is signed by several mps , including sir iain several mps, including sir Iain Duncan Smith , warns that the duncan smith, warns that the Financial Conduct Authority may have inadvertently encouraged the culture within banking that led to nigel farage losing his coutts account. They say the fca coutts account. They say the fca should be investigated. The should be investigated. The pubuc should be investigated. The public has a right to camp in Dartmoor National park, according to a ruling by the court of appeal. It comes after court of appeal. It comes after a High Court Judge previously ruled against granting people the right to pitch tents overnight without obtaining landowners permission. Farmers alexander and diana darwell brought a successful legal challenge against the Dartmoor NationalPark Authority , arguing National Park authority, arguing the camp has destroyed the environment. The camp has destroyed the environment. But the camp has destroyed the environment. But the park environment. But the Park Authority, however , asked appeal authority, however, asked appeal judges to overturn the ruling. Earlier this month to Just Stop Oil. Protesters have lost an appeal to have their jail terms reduced. Morgan trowland and Marcus Decker scaled a bridge on the Dartford Crossing in october last year, leading to the bridges closure for 41 hours. Both men were eventually removed by specially trained officers at a hearing in london last week, the protesters lawyers made a bid to challenge the length of trowland three year sentence and deckers jail term of two years and seven months as a british man has been released from prison in cyprus after being sentenced for the manslaughter of his wife. David hunter was of his wife. David hunter was given a two yearjail of his wife. David hunter was given a two year jail term for killing his seriously ill wife at their home in paphos in 2020. The 76 year old has been released after cypriot authorities calculated his time to serve. David hunter claimed his wife asked him to end her life as she suffered from blood cancen life as she suffered from blood cancer. He spoke of his relief outside court , said thank you to outside court, said thank you to all the people whove donated to me, and especially my mates, my workmates. Workmates. I didnt know where id be without. I i didnt know where id be without. I hope i didnt know where id be without. I hope im feeling the without. I hope im feeling the same as my family when im talking about that im talking about all my lads , all the about all my lads, all the families. When you work in a colliery family , the building colliery family, the Building Products supplier marshalls is cutting 250 jobs and closing a factory in scotland following a slump in the number of new homes being built. The company says it faces persists weakness in new build housing, citing high inflation and increasing Interest Rates. Among its key challenges. Recent among its key challenges. Recent figures from hmrc show that house sales were down by 15 in june, compared to the same time last year. June, compared to the same time last year. Plans to house migrants on the bibby stockholm barge in dorset could face delays after reports the facility hasnt received approval from local fire services. The barge is expected to accommodate around 500 men at one time, but there are fears the vessel could present a fire danger. The vessel could present a fire danger. The government says the danger. The government says the barge is undergoing final preparations to comply with regulations. It comes as the government aims to provide cheaper accommodation for those arriving in small boats. And arriving in small boats. And time is running out for people to use any non barcoded stamps with just hours to go before they become invalid from the 1st of august. Old stamp designs without the barcode cant be used or the recipient will be asked to cover the cost. Special asked to cover the cost. Special issue stamps or christmas themed editions will remain in use. This is gb news. More from me shortly. Now though, its back to. To. Patrick welcome along. Now we do welcome along. Now we do start with the news that british pensioner david hunter has now been released from prison after serving 19 months for causing the death of his terminally ill wife. A very emotive case this wife. A very emotive case this lots of strong opinions on either side of it. Now, he admitted suffolk dating janice at their retirement home in cyprus back in december 2021. She was suffering from blood cancer and david told the court that she had begged him to help and her life if he was convicted of manslaughter. Now he is out. Well, im very pleased to say that im joined by Michael Pollock , who is the director of pollock, who is the director of Justice Abroad and is david hunters lawyer. Justice abroad and is david hunters lawyer. Thank you very much, michael. Firstly how is he . . Hes 7 hes ecstatic 7 hes ecstatic to be out of out of prison. Hes been in there for 19 months, as you said , for someone of that age to spend time in prison is very difficult. He was in a cell with 11 other men. There he was treated with respect by the prison Prison Guards and other inmates, of course. But its a very difficult place to be as someone of that age. So hes very happy to be released today , assuming that theres no chance of him facing some kind of criminal case back here in the uk. Is there. Patrick, ive lost is there. Patrick, ive lost you there. You there. I cant quite hear what youre saying. Is there any chance of him facing a criminal case back here in the uk . Oh okay. All right. In the uk . Oh okay. All right. I think we might be struggling a little bit with michael there. Its okay, michael. Dont worry. We go back to you. So look, we will go back to you. So look, get in on get your emails coming in on this a deeply, deeply emotive case. I think everyone can case. And i think everyone can put least try put themselves or at least try to into the position that to anyway into the position that david himself in. His david found himself in. His wife, janice had suffering wife, janice had been suffering from blood cancer a long from blood cancer for a long time now. What david was saying was, she was begging to was, look, she was begging me to end life. She had quality end her life. She had no quality of she was in pain. She of life. She was in pain. She just didnt want to live like this anymore. And as anyone who desperately loves somebody and somebody that youve been with for time, you for a huge period of time, you wouldnt want to see them like that, you . Course, that, would you . But of course, well, involved. Well, the law is involved. I believe we might have michael back. Very much, back. Thank you very much, michael. Look, ill crack michael. Look, ill just crack on this. Is there any on with this. Is there any chance facing any chance of david facing any criminal here criminal prosecution here in britain . No. This is all over for him. He faced a charge of premeditated murder. He was found not guilty of that two weeks importance of weeks ago. The importance of that is, if he was found guilty of premeditated murder, he would have his life have spent the rest of his life in here in cyprus. So in prison here in cyprus. So were pleased that was were very pleased when that was off table in regards to the off the table in regards to the manslaughter willing manslaughter that he was willing to plead along. He was to plead to all along. He was given this sentence of two years, which allowed him to walk free from court today so it couldnt gone better for couldnt have gone better for him hes pleased him today. And hes very pleased and with the and were very pleased with the results hearing. Its results of the hearing. Its obviously very emotional obviously a very emotional matter be dealing with, but matter to be dealing with, but we think the right decision has been and im assuming that been made and im assuming that david was able to demonstrate that his wife did indeed want to die. Yes. So the court, as well die. Yes. So the court, as well as finding him not guilty of the premeditate murder, they they found in his favour in regards to all the facts that we put forward that she wanted to end her life. She was in a lot of pain and acted out of love pain and he acted out of love for theyd been together for her. Theyd been together for her. Theyd been together for over years witnesses for over 50 years and witnesses describe loving that describe just how loving that relationship was. It was like the perfect relationship. The perfect relationship. Genesis hairdresser came to court and said that everyone in the hair salon here in paphos in cyprus was so jealous of her because of how loving david was towards her. And it gave a bit of an idea, a bit of a flavour for the court about what kind of relationship they were dealing with. Opens up as you are it opens up as you are acutely aware, a massive debate and a massive discussion. Now that when situations like this happen , always comes out to play happen, always comes out to play. Do you think that this could lead to some kind of change in the law where euthanasia becomes legal . Legal . So during the currency of these proceeding is parliament in cyprus has started to talk about this as an issue. And i know in september theyre going to start discussing, discussing this more seriously about the legalisation euthanasia in legalisation of euthanasia in cyprus, whether it leads to anything or not, who knows . Its anything or not, who knows . Its anything or not, who knows . Its a serious discussion to be had. A serious discussion to be had. And there are good arguments on both debate. I both sides of the debate. But i think question i always ask think the question i always ask myself is what would i if put myself is what would i do if put in position with somebody in that position with somebody who i was in love with and who i who i was in love with and who i who i was in love with and who was in a lot of pain . And i think i cant say that i would do anything differently than david. David did. Its a bit grim, this what im about to ask but all of im about to ask you. But all of it is really is the subject matter a couple of points, which is that the prosecution raised and the manner in which david decided to end janices life, which is down here as asphyxiation. They said that it asphyxiation. They said that it was a horrible death and that it was a horrible death and that it was no more painless or peaceful. And as i understand it, david did then suddenly make an attempt on his own life. Is that correct . And then the police, i think, found him before that happened. I think, found him before that happened. I suppose the manner happened. I suppose the manner in which he acted was something that was up for question. Whats his view on that . His view on that . Well, we got the manner of her death. It was suffocation. She was it was suffocation. She was in no position to be able to take pills to end her own life. And thats where you get one of the problems with this euthanasia debate. People say, well, people do it well, why cant people do it themselves is because often when youre in pain, youre in a position you cant actually end your own life. So thats why he acted and the case acted as he did. And the case law, if you look across our jurisdiction, england and wales , across the commonwealth, when these cases happen, there are much more gruesome situations, if i can put it like that, of people causing the death of their loved ones and theyre put in this position because theres no formal process us that people can go through to be helped to end their life by medical professionals. And not for one moment would i say that it wouldnt have been better if she could have ended her own life in a proper way with help a a proper way with the help of a doctor nurse. Doctor or a nurse. Michael, you very much michael, thank you very much for coming on and its been a fascinating conversation. And fascinating conversation. And obviously i hope that david continues to be okay upon his release. Its Michael Pollock there who is the director of Justice Abroad and is david hunters lawyer. Going to Justice Abroad and is david hu havingawyer. Going to Justice Abroad and is david hu having ayer. Going to Justice Abroad and is david hu having a debate going to Justice Abroad and is david hu having a debate on going to Justice Abroad and is david hu having a debate on thisg to Justice Abroad and is david hu having a debate on this later be having a debate on this later on because its that kind of topic, it . Views topic, isnt it . Gb views gbnews. Com. Difficult gbnews. Com. A very difficult situation to try put yourself situation to try to put yourself in, but one think many in, but one that i think many people imagine. And i want people can imagine. And i want to know whether or not youd react way, whether react in the same way, whether or you think that euthanasia or not you think that euthanasia should actually should indeed now actually be legal some form. More on that legal in some form. More on that story our website, though. Story on our website, though. Gbnews. Com. Its the Fastest Growing in growing National News website in the country. All the best analysis, opinion the analysis, big opinion on the latest breaking but lets latest breaking news. But lets just actually with the just crack on actually with the topic were originally just crack on actually with the topic to were originally just crack on actually with the topic to lead were originally just crack on actually with the topic to lead with, originally just crack on actually with the topic to lead with, which|lly just crack on actually with the topic to lead with, which is just crack on actually with the topic to lead with, which is the going to lead with, which is the government on government cracking down on foreign criminals want to foreign criminals who want to settle the uk. So suella settle in the uk. So Suella Braverman is leading this fight back against what she called the abuse of the uks immigration and nationality system. Now, i wasnt of this. This is wasnt aware of this. This is absolutely staggering. Before today, someone been today, say someone who has been jailed for four years in their home country , we will normally home country, we will normally have their bid to become a citizen. Reject id, but not actually all the time. So you could have been jailed for four years in a foreign country. Could have been jailed for four years in a foreign country. And years in a foreign country. And you can go. I fancy a british passport and well go, yeah, there you go. Why not . But now that has been cut to 12 months, which is a step in the right direction. Joining now is d