Man Sentenced to Life for Murdering Ex-Wife and Concealing Body in Garden
Alireza Askari, 42, has been handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 26 years for the brutal murder of his ex-wife, Paria Veisi, 37, and burying her body in the garden of their former shared home in Penylan, Cardiff. The sentencing took place at Cardiff Crown Court on Friday, March 13, 2026, where Mrs Justice Stacey described the killing as "cold-blooded."
Gruesome Details of the Crime
The court heard that Askari admitted to killing Veisi on April 12 last year, shortly after their separation. He then concealed her body in a makeshift grave under patio slabs, soil, and newly-planted flowers in the rear garden. Prosecutor William Hughes KC detailed how Askari purchased kitchen knives from a supermarket on the day of the attack and enlisted his aunt, Maryam Delavary, 48, to bring bleach, compost, and plants to help cover up the crime.
Motivation and Hypocrisy Revealed
Mrs Justice Stacey highlighted Askari's motives during sentencing, stating he killed Veisi because she wanted a divorce and had left him less than two weeks earlier. She noted his "staggering hypocrisy," as he was simultaneously texting a woman in Iran, believed to be his girlfriend, about plans to have Veisi killed. In one message, he wrote, "I'm planning for them to kill her in Iran."
Investigation and Arrest
The investigation began when a friend of Veisi contacted police, fearing she was being held against her will by Askari. On April 15, Askari was arrested while driving to Cardiff, with canisters of caustic soda found in his car, which prosecutors argued were intended to destroy Veisi's remains. A search of the property later uncovered her body, revealing she had suffered four stab wounds to her chest and neck.
Co-conspirator Sentenced
Maryam Delavary, of Australia Road, White City Estate, west London, pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice for her role in assisting Askari. She was sentenced to five years and six months in prison. Askari had previously pleaded guilty to murder and preventing the lawful burial of a body, with an additional charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm ordered to lie on file.
Background of the Couple
Askari and Veisi moved to the UK from Iran in 2010 and married, but were living separately at the time of the murder. The case has devastated Veisi's family, with Mrs Justice Stacey emphasizing that her death "has destroyed her family's happiness, as you knew it would."
