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SKYDIVE MURDER CHARGE

Army PT instructor, 36, charged with attempting to murder his wife by tampering with her PARACHUTE

A HUSBAND has been charged with trying to murder his wife by tampering with the parachute she wore on a jump that then failed to open properly, police said today.

Experienced parachutist Victoria Cilliers was seriously injured when she crashed down to earth in a planned 4,000ft dive.

 Victoria Cilliers with husband Emile who was today charged with trying to murder his wife by tampering with the parachute she wore on a jump that then failed to open properly
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Victoria Cilliers with husband Emile who was today charged with trying to murder his wife by tampering with the parachute she wore on a jump that then failed to open properlyCredit: Pixel 8
 Sgt Emile Cilliers, 36, of Amesbury, Wiltshire, was arrested after his wife Victoria fell in April last year
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Sgt Emile Cilliers, 36, of Amesbury, Wiltshire, was arrested after his wife Victoria fell in April last yearCredit: Twitter
 Mrs Cilliers suffered numerous fractures in her fall on April 4 last year at Netheravon Airfield near Salisbury, Wilts, including to her ribs and legs
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Mrs Cilliers suffered numerous fractures in her fall on April 4 last year at Netheravon Airfield near Salisbury, Wilts, including to her ribs and legsCredit: Solent News

The 39-year-old suffered multiple serious injuries including broken ribs, a broken collarbone, a broken leg and spinal injuries when her main and reserve canopies malfunctioned during a solo jump on Easter Sunday last year.

Today her husband Emile, 36, from Amesbury, Wilts., was charged with two counts of attempted murder and a further charge of criminal damage being reckless to the endangerment of life.

A spokesman for Wiltshire Police said: "He has been released on bail and is next due to appear at Salisbury Crown Court on October 14 2016."

South African-born husband Emile was an instructor with the Royal Army Physical Training Corps attached to the Royal Engineers at the time of the incident.

Victoria, herself a qualified parachute instructor, jumped alone from a Cessna Caravan light aircraft at 4,000ft and as the parachutes failed to open managed to slow herself down and land on a field near Neatheravon airfield, on Salisbury Plain, Wilts.

 Victoria, pictured here preparing for a skydive, was seriously injured when she crashed down to earth
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Victoria, pictured here preparing for a skydive, was seriously injured when she crashed down to earthCredit: Facebook
 Experienced parachutist Victoria Cilliers plunged to the ground yet remarkably survived after her main parachute didn't deploy
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Experienced parachutist Victoria Cilliers plunged to the ground yet remarkably survived after her main parachute didn't deployCredit: Solent News

Emergency services were called and she was rushed to hospital in Southampton by air ambulance and spent weeks in hospital before being release to recouperate at home in a body brace.


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