Army sergeant tried to kill wife in parachute plot

● Woman survived 4,000ft jump when both parachutes failed ● Husband said to be ‘dangerous, coercive and manipulative’

An army sergeant has been found guilty of trying to murder his wife by tampering with her parachute. Emile Cilliers plotted to gain access to his wife Victoria’s life insurance payout after running up debts.

An army sergeant described as a “very dangerous, coercive and manipulative” individual has been found guilty of attempting to murder his wife by tampering with her parachute and sabotaging a gas valve at their home.

Victoria Cilliers, a highly experienced parachuting instructor from East Lothian, suffered near-fatal injuries when both her main and reserve parachutes failed as she took part in a jump three years ago.

Her husband, Emile Cilliers, was convicted yesterday of two attempted murder charges and a third count of damaging the gas valve at their home.

Winchester Crown Court heard how Cilliers, 38, had debts of £22,000 and wanted to use money from his wife’s life insurance policy, worth £120,000 in the event of her accidental death, to start a new life with his lover, Stefanie Goller.

Ms Cilliers, 41, from Haddington, was taking part in an Army Parachute Association jump when she suffered the near fatal fall.

The trial heard that Cilliers, a member of the Royal Army Physical Training Corps and an experienced parachute packer, had tampered with equipment he knew his wife was going to use.

Even though the lines to the main canopy of her parachute were twisted, with essential parts missing from the reserve, Ms Cilliers – a former Edinburgh Academy pupil – survived the 4,000ft fall at Netheravon airfield in Wiltshire on Easter Sunday in April 2015.

Cilliers showed no emotion as he was convicted unanimously on the two counts of attempted murder and by a majority of ten to two on the criminal damage charge.

Detective Inspector Paul Franklin of Wiltshire Police said it was a “miracle” that Ms Cilliers was still alive after the parachute jump, which saw her land in the soft soil of a recently ploughed field.

Speaking outside the court, he described Cilliers as “cold and calculated” and a “very dangerous man.”

Mr Franklin said Cilliers could easily have escaped being caught for the attempts on his wife’s life, explaining: “He tried very hard, it was due to due diligence of the staff at the Army Parachute Association who brought it to our attention but it could have passed off as an accident should they have not been so diligent.

“So it was certainly calculated and there was the opportunity of him getting away with it.”

Describing the impact on Ms Cilliers, Mr Franklin added: “I don’t think we can underestimate the ordeal that she has been put through.

“She has been made to give evidence twice, and again on top of all the physical and emotional trauma that she suffered from that horrendous fall where it is only a miracle really that she survived.

“Physically she is well but obviously she is still traumatised and there is a long way for her to go. It’s a very difficult time for her and has been and will continue for a while, I would imagine.”

Hannah Squire, junior counsel for the prosecution, said Cilliers used “coercive and manipulative behaviour” to satisfy his sexual and financial needs.

She said: “It became apparent early on in the investigation, the only possible cause for the failure of both the main and the reserve had to be down to deliberate human intervention.

“The evidence all pointed to Emile Cilliers, the man with the motive and the opportunity to commit these cold and calculated attempts to murder his wife.”

Remanding the defendant in custody until sentencing on 15 June, Mr Justice Sweeney said he would ask for a probation report to be prepared on Cilliers and added: “Because dangerousness plays such a significant part in this sentencing, it does seem to me that I ought, in fairness to the defendant, get a view.”

The judge thanked the jury of nine men and three women for fulfilling their duty “with distinction” and told them: “The burden now falls on me on what to do as far as this defendant is concerned. That too is a heavy burden.”