A man has confessed to murdering his ex-wife and burying her in the backyard of their shared residence in Cardiff. Alireza Askari, aged 42, admitted to killing Paria Veisi, 37, after she had recently moved out following their separation. The victim’s body was discovered buried in a makeshift grave in the garden, concealed under a flower bed, as revealed in Cardiff Crown Court.

According to William Hughes KC, the prosecutor, Askari committed the murder in the conservatory of their home and enlisted the help of his aunt, Maryam Delavary, to dispose of the body. Askari and Ms. Veisi, who had emigrated from Iran to the UK in 2010 and were married, were estranged at the time of the tragic incident. Investigations uncovered that Askari had been in contact with a woman in Iran, suspected to be his girlfriend, before the crime took place.

Evidence showed that Askari had purchased a set of kitchen knives, believed to be the murder weapon, on the day of the incident. After the murder, he contacted Delavary, who arrived from London to assist in covering up the crime. Concerns raised by a friend of Ms. Veisi led to a missing person inquiry by South Wales Police, eventually leading to Askari’s arrest while transporting chemicals, possibly intended for destroying evidence related to the crime.

The victim’s body was found buried beneath patio slabs, soil, and newly planted flowers in the rear garden of the property. Ms. Veisi’s sister, Hiria Veisi, expressed the profound impact of her sister’s tragic death on the family. Askari pleaded guilty to murder and improper burial, while Delavary admitted to obstructing justice. Both defendants are awaiting sentencing by Mrs. Justice Stacey at Cardiff Crown Court.