An Army sergeant accused of trying to murder his wife by tampering with her parachute has told a court he "would never" do anything to harm her.

Emile Cilliers, 38, of the Royal Army Physical Training Corps, denies sabotaging Victoria Cilliers' parachute in 2015 in a bid to kill her.

The prosecution alleges he planned to start a new life with his girlfriend.

Mr Cilliers denies two counts of attempted murder and causing a gas leak at the family home in Amesbury.

At Winchester Crown Court, defence barrister Elizabeth Marsh QC asked Mr Cilliers whether he had "harboured any wish to harm" his wife or children.

He replied: "No. Never. I would never do anything to harm any of them."

Prosecutors allege the defendant was £22,000 in debt and believed he was set to receive a £120,000 insurance payout in the event of his wife's accidental death.
'Being stupid'

Mrs Cilliers sent a text to her husband on 30 March 2015 saying she could smell gas and had found blood around a gas lever in a kitchen cupboard.

[link to www.bbc.com]