Victoria Cilliers suffered severe injuries to her spine and broke her leg, collarbone and ribs as a result of her husband deliberately damaging her parachute.
Emile Cilliers had tampered with the main canopy, which stopped the chute from opening when she went skydiving in April 2015 – his wife only survived the fall of more than 1000 metres because luckily, she landed in a newly ploughed field.
Ms Cilliers told the BBC her husband had suggested that she go skydiving, and at the time, she was delighted that he was suddenly being attentive and encouraging her to do things she enjoyed.
Victoria Cilliers, arrives at Winchester Crown Court for the trial of her husband, Emile Cilliers. Source: Getty Images Europe
The Winchester Crown Court court heard her 38-year-old husband planned to kill her in order to use her life insurance benefits to pay off his debts of more almost $40,000 - and start a new life with a woman he had met on Tinder.
Mr Cilliers hoped to obtain a benefit of more than $200,000 if his wife died.
When police began investigating the incident they uncovered Mr Cilliers' large debt, his extramarital affairs and that he had been in contact with sex workers.
Emile Cilliers, who is accused of attempted murder of his wife, arrives at Winchester Crown Court on November 21, 2017. Source: Getty Images Europe
Are you trying to bump me off?
The parachute plot was the former soldier’s second attempt to kill Ms Cilliers – the first time, just a week prior, he damaged a gas valve in their family home, hoping it would explode when his wife tried to turn it on.
Mr Cilliers, who had also been having an affair with his ex-wife, went to meet his former partner, but a discerning Ms Cilliers smelled the gas leak before turning on the stove.
In jest, she sent him a text which asked: “are you trying to bump me off?”
Justice Nigel Sweeney said Mr Cilliers’ actions were “wicked offending of extreme gravity”.
“That your wife recovered at all was miraculous, she undoubtedly suffered severe physical harm, and she must have suffered psychological harm,” he said.
Although Mr Cilliers had denied attempted murder, he was jailed for life on Friday. He will have to serve at least 18 years in jail with no chance of parole.
“Emile lied, he squirmed, he turned, he never took any responsibility for any of his actions and just presented a front of a cold, callous man who as we found out did everything for himself...,” Detective Inspector Paul Franklin of Wiltshire Police told the BBC.
According to The Guardian, Ms Cilliers intends to visit him in prison to confront him.
“I’ve been through every emotion under the sun, I’ve had plenty of time to think about things,” she told ITV.
“I’m still in shock, slightly stunned about the whole thing.”
- With Reuters.
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