Man Sentenced to Life for Ex-Wife's Murder

Alireza Askari, 42, has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 26 years for the murder of his ex-wife Paria Veisi, 37. The incident occurred at their former home in Penylan, Cardiff, on April 12 last year.

Askari admitted to killing Veisi and burying her body in a makeshift grave in the rear garden of their property, concealed by patio slabs, soil, and newly planted flowers. According to prosecutors William Hughes KC, Askari murdered his ex-wife in the conservatory at about 4:30 PM on April 12 before attempting to destroy any evidence with the help of his aunt Maryam Delavary.

Veisi had separated from her husband and moved out earlier that month. She was a glamorous hairdressing company director who had recently left Askari. Analysis of Askari’s phone revealed he had been texting a woman in Iran, believed to be his girlfriend, before the killing. In one message he said: "I'm planning for them to kill her in Iran."

After burying Veisi's body, Askari rang Delavary in London and made another trip to the supermarket where he bought bleach, compost, and plants. Delavary traveled from London to Cardiff by taxi “to assist in the covering up of Paria’s murder,” Hughes said. A friend of Veisi contacted South Wales police the day after the murder, raising concerns that she was being kept against her will.

Askari was arrested on April 15 while driving back from Birmingham to Cardiff with canisters containing caustic soda intended for destroying Paria’s remains. The body of Ms. Veisi was found during a search of the property. She had four stab wounds and injuries to her chest and neck.

Justice Stacey sentenced Askari, noting that he killed his ex-wife because she wanted a divorce and left him less than two weeks earlier. Delavary was also jailed for five years and six months for perverting the course of justice by assisting in disposing of Veisi's body.