HUSBAND WHO SABOTAGED WIFE’S PARACHUTE JAILED

LONDON A former British Army sergeant who tried to kill his wife by sabotaging her parachute so he could get her insurance money was sentenced Friday to at least 18 years in prison.

Sgt. Emile Cilliers was convicted last month of two counts of attempted murder for the parachute tampering and sabotaging a gas valve at the couple’s home.

Victoria Cilliers, 42 — an experienced parachuting in- structor — suffered near-fatal injuries when she fell 1,200 metres in April 2015, but survived by landing on a newly plowed field.

Prosecutors said the 38-year-old defendant was deeply in debt and wanted his wife’s life insurance money to pay off his bills and start a new life with his lover.