Jealous husband, 44, who stabbed his wife so ferociously with an eight-inch carving knife that the blade snapped off after she told him she was leaving him is found guilty of murder

• Wilfred Jacob plunged an eight-inch carving knife into Linda Vilika’s back
• The attack took place at the couple’s Grade-II listed home in Great Saling, Essex
• Jacob believed his wife had been seeing other men, including a previous partner 

A jealous husband is facing life behind bars for stabbing his wife to death after she told him she was leaving him.

Wilfred Jacob plunged an eight-inch carving knife into Linda Vilika’s back in a fit of rage at their Grade-II listed home in Great Saling, Essex.

The attack was so brutal the blade snapped off at the hilt.

In the weeks leading up to the murder, the deluded 44-year-old believed his wife had been seeing other men, including a previous partner, despite the fact the relationship had ended two decades before.

Jacob was arrested and charged after the horrific stabbing in August 2019.

A jury heard that in the weeks leading up to the attack he became increasingly controlling, consumed with jealousy, and sent her numerous abusive messages.

Jealous husband Wilfred Jacob is facing life behind bars for stabbing his wife Linda Vilika to death after she told him she was leaving him. Jacob plunged an eight-inch carving knife into Ms Vilika’s back in a fit of rage at their Grade-II listed home in Great Saling, Essex

On the day of the murder, Jacob had instigated a situation where Mrs Vilika’s brother – who was living with them at the time – would be out of the house for the whole day.

However,  unbeknown to Jacob, Mrs Vilika, 41, had confessed to her brother that the marriage was over and she would be telling her husband that day.

After the attack, heartless Jacob called 999 claiming his wife had threatened him with a knife and he had pushed her, causing her to fall to the floor.

Officers forced their way in and found Mrs Vilika slumped against a sofa with her face and body covered with a duvet on August 19, 2019.

At his trial he attempted to paint a picture of himself as a loving husband.

He told the jury at Chelmsford Crown Court he could never care for anyone more than he did her.

‘I made sure she was spoilt rotten, every time she saw something she liked I made sure I got it for her.

On the day of the murder, Jacob had instigated a situation where Mrs Vilika’s brother – who was living with them at the time – would be out of the house, pictured above, for the whole day

‘I could never care for anyone more than I did Linda. Every day was a blessing,’ he said.

But it took a jury less than two hours of deliberations yesterday before they returned a guilty verdict.

The court heard how the couple’s marriage had been deteriorating in the months leading up to the killing.

Andrew Jackson, prosecuting, said Jacob carried out a ‘powerful’ attack after his wife informed him she would be leaving him. 

‘In the weeks and days leading up to this murder, the defendant had become consumed with jealousy, believing his wife was seeing other men or in contact with other men.

‘He bombarded her with unpleasant messages. 

A jury heard that in the weeks leading up to the attack he became increasingly controlling, consumed with jealousy, and sent her numerous abusive messages. Pictured: Police search Jacob’s car after his wife’s death

‘Linda had felt controlled and we say manipulated and not surprisingly she resolved to leave the defendant.

‘The events of the proceeding days and weeks came rapidly to a head in that short hour,’ he had told the jury.

Police had previously been called to the couple’s home on August 11 after Mrs Vilika had been bombarded with Whatsapp messages accusing her of cheating.

Mrs Vilika was stabbed twice in the back and again her stomach with the kitchen knife and she also suffered injuries to her neck, face and hands.

A 999 call made by the defendant was played to the jury.

Jacob could be heard saying his wife was lying unresponsive on the floor after he had confronted her about online messages she’d been sending to another man.

In the 999 call he also said he could not remember any more details of what had happened, claiming to have suffered an epileptic fit called an aura.

In the weeks leading up to the murder, the deluded 44-year-old believed his wife had been seeing other men ,including a previous partner, despite the fact the relationship had ended two decades before. Pictured: Police at the scene of the crime

But Mr Jackson told the jury there was no scientific evidence to back up the defendant’s claims and Jacob had not suffered any epileptic episodes since 2010.

After Tuesday’s guilty verdict, Detective Chief Inspector Stephen Jennings said: ‘This was a horrific, brutal attack on a woman who was trying to free herself of a jealous and controlling husband.

‘In a premeditated step, Wilfred Jacob made sure he’d be alone with Linda for a prolonged period of time and when she told him their marriage was over attacked her with such aggression and force the knife broke.

‘Jacob is a dangerous individual who now faces a life sentence. Essex is a safer place for it.’

Jacob is due to be sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court on Wednesday. 

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