Alireza Askari, 42, stabbed and killed his estranged wife in their home, buried her in a makeshift grave and sent text messages from her phone
Credit: South Wales Police
NEED TO KNOW
- A Cardiff, Wales man who stabbed his estranged wife to death in their home has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 26 years
- Prosecutors say 42-year-old Alireza Askari stabbed his wife Paria Veisi 4 times with a kitchen knife in April 2025, then buried her in a makeshift grave. Askari was assisted in the burial by his aunt Maryam Delavary
- Askari sent text messages from Veisi’s phone to her boss and her family members saying she was leaving the UK and her phone would be off for one to two months
A Welsh man who stabbed his estranged wife to death in their home has learned his fate.
Alireza Askari, 42, admitted to stabbing his wife at a hearing in January, according multiple reports. He was sentenced on Friday to life in prison with a minimum term of 26 years.
Paria Veisi, 37, disappeared from Cardiff on April 12, 2025. Her body was found a week later in the garden of the house she previously shared with her husband. The court said Veisi was buried in a makeshift grave where a pond had previously been located. Patio slabs, soil, and newly planted flowers were placed on top to cover the grave site, according to the BBC, The Guardian, and Wales Online. Askari was not living at the home at the time.
Askari's aunt, Maryam Delavary, 48, admitted to assisting him in disposing of Veisi's body. She was sentenced to five years and six months in prison, with Judge Mrs Justice Stacey telling her "you were in it together".
An examination of Veisi's body found that she had four stab wounds to the neck and two slash wounds. After the killing, Askari changed his clothes and visited a nearby leisure center. He then stopped at a supermarket to buy bleach and dusters to clean up the crime scene.
Askari used a jet washer to clean the scene, and bought plants to cover up where Veisi's body was buried. After a friend of Veisi raised concerns about her whereabouts, police carried out a welfare check. Askari and Delavary told police they did not know where she was, but that she had a boyfriend in Iran, according to BBC.
He also sent text messages from Veisi's phone to her boss and her family saying she was leaving the United Kingdom and her phone would be off for one to two months.
Credit: South Wales Police
When Askari was arrested on suspicion of murder, he denied killing Veisi and said he was a "diagnosed schizophrenic" and was "hearing voices in my head," the BBC reported.
Justice Stacey blasted Askari's attempt at a mental health defense, saying he "cynically tried to play the disability card," per the outlet.
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"You murdered your wife in a pre-meditated plan hatched at least a month earlier. You lured Paria into the house where you stabbed her four times. She was taken by complete surprise and she had no chance to defend herself." the judge continued.
Veisi's sister Heliya Veisi gave a victim impact statement at the sentencing, saying "irreversible suffering has been imposed on our family," the BBC reported.
Heliya described her last video call with her sister, recalling "how beautiful her hair looked and not realizing it was the last time I'd see her face and hear her voice."
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