Army sergeant found guilty of attempting to kill wife by tampering with her parachute
Victoria Cilliers suffered near-fatal injuries when main and reserve parachutes failed during 4,000ft jump
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An Army sergeant has been found guilty of attempting to murder his wife by sabotaging her parachute.
Emile Cilliers, 38, was convicted of two attempted murder charges and a third count of damaging a gas valve at the couple’s home.
Victoria Cilliers, a highly experienced parachuting instructor, suffered near-fatal injuries when both her main and reserve parachutes failed during a 4,000ft jump at the Army Parachute Association at Netheravon in Wiltshire, on Easter Sunday, 5 April 2015.
The defendant showed no emotion as he was convicted unanimously on the two counts of attempted murder and by a majority of 10 to two on the criminal damage charge.
The judge, Mr Justice Sweeney, said he would be seeking a report from the probation service to establish the “dangerousness” of the defendant and to seek a statement from Ms Cilliers on the impact the offences had upon her before sentencing Cilliers.
He told the jury: “The burden now falls on me on what to do as far as this defendant is concerned, that too is a heavy burden.”
He continued: “It’s an important part of any sentencing exercise where there is a victim or intended victim as there plainly is in this case, that the court gives the victim an opportunity to make a statement and despite all the ups and downs that is what I am going to afford Ms Cilliers if she wishes to take it.”
The judge said he would have to consider the “dangerousness” of the defendant and added: “It may well be that I may need a report from an expert probation officer on this but as the judge who has presided over this case twice, you may imagine I have my own views.”
He will hear submissions on Thursday afternoon, ahead of the sentencing, on a date to be set.