THE husband of a Haddington woman who plunged to the ground after her parachute failed to open during a skydive has been found guilty of attempting to murder her.
Emile Cilliers was accused of trying to kill wife Victoria twice in six days - once by tampering with her parachute and again by sabotaging a gas valve in their home, in Amesbury, Wiltshire.
A jury of nine men and three women today convicted Cilliers, 38, a sergeant with the Royal Army Physical Training Corps, of two attempted murder charges and a third count of damaging the gas fitting recklessly endangering life following a retrial at Winchester Crown Court.
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.
Mrs Cilliers, a highly-experienced parachuting instructor who grew up in Haddington, suffered near-fatal injuries when both her main and reserve 'chutes failed when she took part in a jump at the Army Parachute Association at Netheravon, Wiltshire, on Easter Sunday, April 5, 2015.
Mr Justice Sweeney thanked the jurors 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."
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 Mrs Cilliers the opportunity if she wishes to take it."
The judge added that he would have to consider the "dangerousness" of the defendant and said: "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."
Sentencing will be made at a future date to be set.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here