Parachute husband Emile Cilliers set to face retrial Published duration 23 November 2017

image caption Emile Cilliers denied attempting to murder Victoria Cilliers on 5 April 2015

An Army sergeant accused of trying to kill his wife is set to face a retrial after a jury failed to reach a verdict.

Emile Cilliers denied tampering with Victoria Cilliers' parachute at Netheravon Airfield, Wiltshire, where she suffered near-fatal injuries in 2015.

Mr Cilliers, 37, faced two charges of attempted murder and another of criminal damage.

Jurors were discharged after a seven-week trial at Winchester Crown Court.

Parachuting instructor Mrs Cilliers, 40, survived a 4,000ft fall on Easter Sunday when both her main and reserve parachutes failed.

'A long case'

Prosecutors also claimed the defendant made another attempt to kill her by deliberately causing a gas leak in the family home days before the fall.

The Crown Prosecution Service has said it will seek a retrial on all three charges.

Jurors began deliberations last Tuesday.

A week later, after they had discussed the case for more than 23 hours, judge Mr Justice Sweeney told them he would accept a majority verdict.

Two jurors, including the forewoman, fell ill and were released after the judge issued the direction.

After the remaining jurors had deliberated for about 30 hours, the judge thanked them for their hard work.

He told them: "It has been a long case which you have been required to work very hard on over a long period."

Mr Cilliers was released on conditional bail until the retrial.