What is it with South Africans and elaborate murder schemes these days? We’re not making light of it here, rest assured, but it seems that we might be making a name for ourselves in the wake of a host of planned and plotted murder scandals.

The latest incident actually took place in Wiltshire, England but involves South African-born Emile Cilliers, a British army sergeant. He stands accused of attempted murder after his recently estranged wife’s parachute and back-up parachute failed to open during a skydiving trip. Here’s Gawker:

Vital parts of the parachute known as slinks were found to be missing after the incident at Netheravon airfield on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire. The slinks, or soft links, connect the canopy to the parachute harness, but were found to be missing from the parachutes. Without them a parachute cannot function properly.

Police have said it was a miracle Mrs Cilliers survived.

Victoria suffered broken ribs, a broken collarbone, a broken leg and spinal injuries after she landed in a field. So why is the finger being pointed at Emile then? Here’s the Daily Mail:

Two sources say Emile signed out an Army parachute from the storeroom at the airfield on his wife’s behalf on Easter Saturday, the day before the incident. But this has not been confirmed by police. The Army storekeeper declined to comment.

It’s all so twisted and sinister, are people really that petrified of divorce these days? Maybe they should have a look at Hollywood, no one there seems to have a problem getting married and divorced without resorting to murderous means.

[sources:gawker&dailymail]