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

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.