Taxi driver strangled his wife after hearing her discuss a divorce

Taxi driver strangled his wife after hearing her discuss the possibility of divorce on a video call with her brother while gloating ‘look what I can do to your sister’

  • Dony Varghese, 37, was married to the mother of his two children for a decade 
  • WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT

A taxi driver strangled his wife after hearing her discuss the possibility of divorce on a video call with her brother while he gloated ‘Look what I can do to your sister’.

Dony Varghese, 37, had been married to the mother of his two children for a decade and this was the second time he strangled her in two days, Newport Crown Court heard. 

The victim told police that during the incident on 14 May, Varghese had also hit her with a bottle. 

She was eventually able to escape through the back of the house and hide outside while she sought help. 

Varghese, from Treforest, also carried out an attack a day before on May 13 in a shop after becoming mired in jealousy because he did not like his wife having friends. 

Dony Varghese (pictured), 37, strangled his wife after hearing her discuss the possibility of divorce on a video call with her brother while he gloated ‘Look what I can do to your sister’, a court heard today

The judge, Recorder Dyfed Llion Thomas, told Varghese: ‘While visiting a shop you started arguing because she had spoken to her flatmates the day before. 

‘The following day she woke up and rang family members, seeking advice on divorce. 

‘She had had enough of what you did the previous day and the arguments you’d been having. She was discussing her concerns over your threats.’

The court heard that in the Zoom video call, Varghese could be seen approaching his wife from behind.

The judge said: ‘She genuinely believed you were going to kill her. She started to feel dizzy.

‘While assaulting her you were saying to her brother: ‘Look what I can do to your sister.’ You sat on top of her and slapped her face, shouting as you hit her with each slap… That clip was, quite frankly, chilling.’

Varghese, of Wood Road, was arrested and in his police interview he ‘in effect blamed his wife’, the court heard. 

But after being shown the footage from the video call, he admitted two counts of intentional strangulation. He had no previous convictions.

Varghese, who had been married to the mother of his two children for a decade, used a towel to pull tight around her neck, Newport Crown Court (pictured) heard

Recorder Thomas told him: ‘Your wife is now asking the court to be lenient with you. 

‘She has seemingly forgiven you, perhaps because of the children you have together, or through a misplaced sense of loyalty.  No restraining order is called for. 

‘The court, of course, won’t ignore the standpoint of your wife, but the court has a duty to the public to pass an appropriate sentence for these very serious offences.

‘The pre-sentence report does not show you in a good light. You minimised your actions, gave the impression that you were the victim and that your wife would regret what she had done. 

‘The probation service found there was a high risk of you reoffending with domestic violence and a high risk of harm to your partner. The court is very concerned by the contents of that report..’

The judge said he took into account Varghese’s claim to have turned to religion and to have made progress in his ‘attitudes’. 

The defendant claimed he had gained a ‘better concept’ of the respect he should have shown his wife.

Recorder Thomas also noted Varghese’s ‘good work ethic’, which saw him take a business course before becoming a self-employed taxi driver. 

The judge imposed a jail term of 20 months.

Source: Read Full Article

Previous post Lewis Capaldi Cancels Shows To 'Rest And Recover'
Next post 'Breathing, sweating, shivering' climate test bot made for heat waves