Army sergeant accused of attempting to murder his wife by tampering with her parachute has his bail conditions changed so he can go SKIING
Emile Cilliers has pleaded not guilty to three charges after his wife Victoria suffered multiple injuries while skydiving
AN army sergeant accused of trying to kill his wife by tampering with her parachute before a 4,000ft jump has had his bail conditions amended so he can go skiing.
Emile Cilliers, 36, pleaded not guilty after wife Victoria, 40, an experienced skydiver, suffered broken ribs, a broken collarbone, a broken leg and spinal injuries when her main and reserve canopies malfunctioned during a solo jump last year.
Cilliers was charged with attempted murder but was initially given bail on condition he have no contact with his wife and that he surrender his passport.
But his defence argued at Salisbury Crown Court that his passport should still be available so he could got on ski courses abroad.
Christopher Hill, representing Cilliers, successfully applied for his passport to be in the possession of police or the Army.
He told the court: "The proposition is there's a ski leaders' course in Bavaria, with a transfer by bus and ferry.
"Then there's another ski course in Austria. The request is that he is allowed to attend those."
Judge Keith Cutler allowed him to have his passport accessible.
Victoria had jumped alone from a Cessna Caravan light aircraft at 4,000ft when her parachute failed to open properly. She managed to slow herself down and land on a field near Neatheravon airfield, on Salisbury Plain, Wilts.
She spent weeks in hospital in a body brace.
Cilliers, of Aldershot, Hampshire, denied two charges of attempting to murder his wife during a short hearing at the court.
One charge is alleged between March 24 and 31 last year, while the second is alleged between April 3 and 6 last year.
Cilliers has also denied damaging a gas fitting belonging to his wife as well as recklessly endangering life between March 28 and 31 last year.
The accused, from South Africa, spoke only to answer "not guilty" to the three charges.
A further hearing is expected in February or March next year.
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