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Army sergeant 'removed parachute parts in bid to kill wife' | Army sergeant 'removed parachute parts in bid to kill wife' |
(35 minutes later) | |
An Army sergeant tried to kill his wife by removing parts of her parachute, causing her to spin thousands of feet to the ground, a court has heard. | An Army sergeant tried to kill his wife by removing parts of her parachute, causing her to spin thousands of feet to the ground, a court has heard. |
Emile Cilliers, 37, is accused of two counts of attempted murder of his former wife, Victoria Cilliers who survived the jump on 5 April 2015. | Emile Cilliers, 37, is accused of two counts of attempted murder of his former wife, Victoria Cilliers who survived the jump on 5 April 2015. |
Winchester Crown Court heard Ms Cilliers suffered multiple injuries. | Winchester Crown Court heard Ms Cilliers suffered multiple injuries. |
Mr Cilliers, who denies all charges, wanted to leave his wife for a lover he had met on Tinder, prosecutors said. | Mr Cilliers, who denies all charges, wanted to leave his wife for a lover he had met on Tinder, prosecutors said. |
It is also claimed that just days before the jump, on 29 March 2015, the defendant tried to kill Ms Cilliers, 40, by deliberately causing a gas leak in the family home while he stayed away. | |
The jury was told the Royal Army Physical Training Corps officer lied to his lover, Stefanie Glover, that he was leaving his Army officer wife because she was having an affair and he was not the father of one of their children. | |
Mr Cilliers, was also having an affair with his ex-wife, Carly Cilliers, the court heard. | Mr Cilliers, was also having an affair with his ex-wife, Carly Cilliers, the court heard. |
Prosecutor Michael Bowes QC said Mr Cilliers, who was based at Aldershot, Hampshire, had debts of £22,000 and believed he would receive a £120,000 life insurance payout on his wife's death. | Prosecutor Michael Bowes QC said Mr Cilliers, who was based at Aldershot, Hampshire, had debts of £22,000 and believed he would receive a £120,000 life insurance payout on his wife's death. |
Mr Bowes QC, said Victoria Cilliers was a highly experienced parachutist and instructor but when she jumped out of the plane 4,000ft (1,200m) above Netheravon Airfield in Wiltshire "both her main parachute and her reserve parachute failed". | Mr Bowes QC, said Victoria Cilliers was a highly experienced parachutist and instructor but when she jumped out of the plane 4,000ft (1,200m) above Netheravon Airfield in Wiltshire "both her main parachute and her reserve parachute failed". |
"Those attending at the scene expected to find her dead, although she was badly injured, almost miraculously she survived the fall. | "Those attending at the scene expected to find her dead, although she was badly injured, almost miraculously she survived the fall. |
"Those at the scene immediately realised that something was seriously wrong with her reserve parachute, two vital pieces of equipment which fasten the parachute harness were missing," he said. | "Those at the scene immediately realised that something was seriously wrong with her reserve parachute, two vital pieces of equipment which fasten the parachute harness were missing," he said. |
He added that at the time of the murder attempts, Mr Cilliers was leaving his wife and treated her with "callousness and contempt". | He added that at the time of the murder attempts, Mr Cilliers was leaving his wife and treated her with "callousness and contempt". |
Mr Bowes told the jury that within hours of the failed attempt to gas his wife at home and "despite his complete disinterest" in her "he suggested that she might like to go parachuting the following weekend". | |
The third allegation, which the 37-year-old also denies, is damaging a gas fitting, reckless to endangerment of life. | The third allegation, which the 37-year-old also denies, is damaging a gas fitting, reckless to endangerment of life. |
The trial continues. | The trial continues. |