A man who fatally attacked his estranged wife at the shop where she worked has been jailed for life, with a judge ordering that he must serve at least 29 years in prison before being eligible for parole.
Nimalarajah Mathiyadaranam, 47, admitted murdering his former partner, Nilani Nimalarajah, after initially denying the charge and standing trial at Liverpool Crown Court. He also pleaded guilty to possessing a bladed article in a public place.
The court heard that Mathiyadaranam carried out the attack at Low Cost Food and Wine on Stanley Road in Bootle, where Ms Nimalarajah was working. Prosecutors said the killing was premeditated and followed careful planning, including the purchase of a block of kitchen knives from a supermarket earlier that day.
Evidence presented to the court showed that Mathiyadaranam travelled to the area by bus after buying the knives and concealing them in a sports bag. CCTV footage traced his movements through the area in the hours leading up to the attack. He was subject to court orders banning him from contacting his wife at the time, following earlier incidents of violence and harassment.
The prosecution said Mathiyadaranam’s actions were driven by anger over family matters, including not being invited to a cultural celebration involving one of his children. The couple had separated, and the court heard that his behaviour had deteriorated in the years leading up to the killing, alongside alcohol dependency and previous convictions for violence.
During sentencing, the judge said the attack was deliberate and sustained, and that the victim was effectively trapped inside the shop. CCTV footage of the incident was described as distressing and showed that the defendant acted with control rather than panic.
The court was told that Ms Nimalarajah’s eldest daughter arrived at the shop shortly after the attack and witnessed the immediate aftermath. Members of the public were also present nearby, and a passer-by attempted to provide emergency assistance before police and ambulance crews arrived.
After the killing, Mathiyadaranam drank alcohol at the scene and later told officers that he had consumed a toxic substance. He was taken to hospital before being transferred into police custody. When arrested, he told officers that he had carried out the attack and complained about being restrained.
Ms Nimalarajah was pronounced dead in hospital later that day. A post-mortem examination confirmed she had suffered multiple injuries. The court heard that attempts were made to save her life both at the scene and after her arrival at hospital.
Sentencing Mathiyadaranam, the judge said the murder involved a high level of planning and numerous aggravating factors, including domestic abuse, breaches of restraining orders, the risk posed to members of the public and the devastating impact on the couple’s three children, who are now without either parent.
The judge said there was no evidence of genuine remorse, noting that Mathiyadaranam had denied responsibility until shortly before the jury was due to consider its verdict. He warned the defendant that he may never be released from prison and would only be considered for parole if the Parole Board later determined he no longer posed a risk.
Speaking in mitigation, defence counsel said Mathiyadaranam’s actions were influenced by alcohol dependency, emotional instability and personal decline, but accepted that none of those factors reduced his responsibility for the killing.
Mathiyadaranam was sentenced to life imprisonment and will remain in custody for a minimum of 29 years.
