Man jailed for 26 years for ex-wife’s murder and burial in Cardiff garden | Crime
A man has been sentenced to at least 26 years in prison for “killing his ex-wife in cold blood” and burying her body in his garden.
Alireza Askari, 42, admitted murdering Paria Veisi, 37, at the property they previously shared in Penylan, Cardiff, in April last year.
Cardiff crown court heard Veisi split from her husband and moved out of the house earlier that month.
Police found her body in a “makeshift grave” in the backyard, hidden by patio pavers, soil and newly planted flowers.
On Friday, Judge Stacey sentenced Askari to a minimum of 26 years in prison for the “cold-blooded murder” of Veisi.
Prosecutor William Hughes KC said Askari killed his ex-wife in the home’s conservatory at around 4.30pm on April 12, then attempted to destroy any evidence with the help of his aunt Maryam Delavary, 48.
The court had previously heard that Askari and Veisi moved to the UK from Iran in 2010 and got married but were living separately at the time of the murder.
Analysis of Askari’s phone revealed that he had been texting a woman believed to be his girlfriend in Iran before the murder. In one message he told the woman: “I plan to kill her in Iran.”
On the day of the attack, Askari bought the suspected murder weapon, a set of kitchen knives, from a supermarket before returning home.
Hughes said that after burying Veisi in a makeshift grave, Askari called Delavary in London and then went to the supermarket and bought bleach, compost and plants.
Hughes said Delavary took a taxi to Cardiff “to help cover up Paria’s murder”.
A friend of Veisi’s contacted South Wales police the day after the murder, expressing concerns that she had been “held against her will by her ex-husband” and a missing persons investigation was launched.
On 15 April, Askari was arrested while traveling from Birmingham to Cardiff. Canisters containing caustic soda were found in the vehicle.
“These chemicals…were to be used to destroy Paria’s remains,” Hughes said.
Veisi’s body was found during a search of the property. He had four stab wounds and wounds on his chest and neck.
Addressing Askari, Judge Stacey said: “He was in the prime of his life and, as you know, his death has devastated the happiness of his family.
“You subjected Paria to abuse at home and [she] he was afraid of you; Paria told her friends how afraid she was of you.
“You recruited your aunt… You did everything you could to cover up the murder, destroy evidence and obstruct South Wales police’s investigation.”
He said Askari killed Veisi because she left him and wanted a divorce.
“Your hypocrisy was astonishing; at the same time [Paria] Get out of the way so you can meet your girlfriend in Iran.”
Askari, of Penylan, Cardiff, previously admitted murder and preventing the lawful and proper burial of a body. It was decided that another charge of assault causing actual bodily harm would also be included in the file.
Delavary, of the White City estate in west London, previously pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice.
He was sentenced to five years and six months in prison.
