Parachute suspect was the quiet type

13 May 2015 - 02:30 By Marvin Meintjies London Correspondent

"He did not really socialise with the rest of us," said a man who belongs, like murder accused Emile Cilliers, to the Amesbury Cricket Club. Cilliers, a South African-born British Army sergeant, is suspected of sabotaging his wife' s parachute in an attempt to kill her. He is out on bail.Cilliers joined the cricket club last year but "dropped us for the last game of the season" in August, the member said.Cilliers was described as a taciturn man who chose to head straight home after games rather than share a pint with teammates.Wiltshire police have refused to name the couple, despite it being widely reported that Cilliers, 35, was arrested after the parachute of his wife, Victoria, failed to open fully during an Easter Sunday skydive at Netheravon airfield.Emile Cilliers' mother, Zaan, who was due to fly to Britain, told the UK's Daily Mail that she did not believe her son was guilty of attempted murder."I don't feel affected by these allegations because I know him and know there is no truth in them. My lawyer said we can say nothing about this."The Times has learned that Cilliers has not been charged and a date for his court appearance has yet to be set because police investigations have not been completed.He is reportedly a physical training instructor attached to the Royal Engineers.Emile has reportedly moved out of the couple's home and Victoria is recovering from multiple fractures sustained in her fall.She was saved by her reserve parachute, which deployed only partially but slowed her descent.The couple married in South Africa in 2011 and have two young children. Victoria gave birth to their youngest child a few weeks before her near-fatal jump...

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