A former British Army sergeant who tried to kill his wife in the belief that he would receive a £120,000 insurance payout has today been sentenced to at least 18 years in prison.
Sgt. Emile Cilliers, 38, was found guilty last month of two attempted murder charges after sabotaging his wife’s skydiving parachute, as well as third count of recklessly endangering life by causing a gas leak at the couple’s family home.
The defendant’s wife, Victoria Cilliers, 41, survived in what was described as a “near-miracle” after both her main and reserve parachutes failed while taking part in a 4,000ft (1,220m) skydive at Netheravon airfield in Wiltshire in April 2015.
At Winchester Crown Court on Friday, Mr Cilliers was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 18 years. Judge Nigel Sweeney described the defendant’s behaviour as “wicked offending of extreme gravity.”
Mr Cilliers, who had racked up debts of £22,000, believed he would receive a sizeable insurance payout in the event of his wife’s accidental death, according to prosecutors.
As well as having an extramarital affair, he was also sleeping with his ex-wife Carly Cilliers and had been arranging unprotected sex sessions with prostitutes, jurors were told.
Just days before the parachuting incident in 2015, Mr Cilliers had caused a gas leak at the home he shared with his wife and children in Amesbury, Wiltshire, by loosening a gas valve fitting in a kitchen cupboard.
