A man has been sentenced to at least 26 years in prison for the “cold-blooded murder” of his ex-wife and burying her body in his garden.
Alireza Askari, 42, admitted killing Paria Veisi, 37, at the property they previously shared in Penylan, Cardiff, in April last year.
Veisi had separated from her husband and moved out of the house earlier that month, Cardiff crown court heard.
Police found his body buried in a “makeshift grave” in the backyard, hidden by patio flagstones, dirt and newly planted flowers.
On Friday, Judge Stacey sentenced Askari to life in prison with a minimum sentence of 26 years for the “cold-blooded murder” of Veisi.
William Hughes KC, prosecuting, said Askari had murdered his ex-wife in the conservatory of the house at around 4.30pm on April 12 before attempting to destroy any evidence with the help of his aunt Maryam Delavary, 48.
The court previously heard that Askari and Veisi moved to the UK from Iran in 2010 and married, but were living apart at the time of the murder.
Analysis of Askari’s phone found he had been texting a woman in Iran, believed to be his girlfriend, before the murder.
In one message, he told the woman: “I’m planning to have her killed in Iran.”
On the day of the attack, Askari bought the suspected murder weapon, a set of kitchen knives, at a supermarket before returning home.
Hughes said that after burying Veisi in a makeshift grave,
Askari called Delavary in London before making another trip to the supermarket, where she bought bleach, fertilizer and plants.
Delavary traveled to Cardiff in a taxi “to help cover up Paria’s murder”, Hughes said.
A friend of Veisi contacted South Wales Police the day after the murder, expressing concern that “she was being held against her will by her ex-husband” and an investigation was launched into the disappearance.
On April 15, Askari was stopped while driving from Birmingham to Cardiff. Inside the vehicle, canisters containing caustic soda were found.
Hughes said: “These chemicals…were going to be used in the destruction of Paria’s remains.”
Veisi’s body was found during a search of the property. He received four stab wounds and wounds to the chest and neck.
Addressing Askari, Judge Stacey said: “She was in the prime of her life, her death destroyed her family’s happiness, as you knew it would.
“You subjected Paria to abuse at home and (she) was afraid of you; Paria confided in her friends how scared she was of you.
“You recruited your aunt… You did everything in your power to cover up the murder, destroy evidence and hinder South Wales Police’s investigation.”
He said Askari killed Veisi because she had left him and wanted a divorce.
“Your hypocrisy was astonishing, at the same time you wanted (Paria) out of the way so you could join your girlfriend in Iran.”
Askari, of Penylan, Cardiff, had previously pleaded guilty to murder and preventing the lawful and decent burial of a body. A further charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm was ordered to be filed.
Delavary, of White City Estate, west London, previously pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice.
She was sentenced to five years and six months in prison.
