AN army sergeant has appeared in court charged with trying to kill his wife after her parachute failed to open during a 4,000ft jump at Netheravon Airfield.

Emile Stolz Cilliers, 36, was charged with two counts of attempting to murder Victoria Cilliers, 40.

He first allegedly tried to kill her at Amesbury between March 28 and 31, 2015, when he is also accused of causing criminal damage to a domestic gas fitting belonging to Mrs Cilliers, recklessly endangering life.

He is then accused of having tried to kill her again at Netheravon between April 3 and April 6, 2015.

Cilliers, of Queen's Avenue, Aldershot, Surrey, spoke only to confirm his name, address and date of birth at Salisbury Crown Court today.

His defence solicitor, Christopher Hill, indicated that his client would enter a not guilty plea to all three charges.

Chairman of the bench Simon Browning released the defendant on conditional bail to appear at Winchester Crown Court on November 18 at 9.30am.

His bail conditions stipulate that he must not enter Wiltshire, except to attend court or to visit his solicitor and must have no contact whatsoever with Mrs Cilliers.

Cilliers has already surrendered his passport to the authorities.

Representing the Crown Prosecution Service was Vyvyan Thatcher.