PHARMACIST JAILED FOR THE MURDER OF WIFE TO START NEW LIFE WITH BOYFRIEND
A pharmacist convicted of murdering his wife as part of a premeditated plan to start a new life with his male partner in Australia has received a sentence of at least 30 years in prison.The 37-year-old, Mitesh Patel, strangled his wife Jessica with a plastic bag after plotting her death over five years so he could use her frozen embryos to have children with his Australian partner.
The court heard that Patel showed no emotional response when Mr.
Justice James Goss described him as a selfish and career-focused man who sought early retirement and wanted to live with another man, knowing that Jessica’s death would generate a life insurance payout of £2 million.
The judge explained that the lengthy minimum term reflected the gravity of the offence, which was considered particularly serious.
Jessica’s sister, Divya, labeled Patel’s conduct as “evil, cruel and malicious,” expressing her heartbreak that Jessica suffered before dying—aware of her attacker and unable to escape.
She recalled how Jessica fought for her life during the attack, which involved an insulin injection followed by strangulation at their home in Linthorpe.
Investigators found that Patel had researched online about insulin effects and strangulation techniques.
After the murder, he set out to mask his crime by staging a break-in, but police analysis of mobile data, especially Jessica’s health app, revealed his frantic activity right after her death.
Prosecutors stated that Patel’s motives were to escape his strict Hindu upbringing and relocate to Australia to be with his partner, while also cashing in on her life insurance policy valued at £2 million.
The jury deliberated for nearly three hours before finding him guilty during a trial that lasted three weeks.
His sentence was imposed for a crime of severity, reflecting the violence involved.
