Kaushik Solanki: Man jailed for fatally beating wife, 49, with hockey stick as lockdown 'worsened his mental health'
HUMBERSTONE, LEICESTER: A husband has been jailed for brutally beating his wife to death with a hockey stick and then cutting off her head in April last year. 55-year-old Kaushik Kumar Solanki pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility after killing his wife, 49-year-old Manisha, at their home in Humberstone, Leicester. Solanki then jumped off of a cliff in Hunstanton, Norfolk, onto the rocks below. He survived, but with a serious brain injury, and broken arms and legs. Emergency services found him with a "smashed" face.
Solanki blamed the coronavirus lockdowns on his unhappy and deteriorating marriage with Manisha. The two were in the process of divorcing. Solanki claimed the pandemic restrictions "worsened his mental health". His murdered wife's body was found in the utility room within two hours of Solanki attempting suicide. The court was told Manisha sustained a severe fracture to the right side of her skull. She also suffered breaks on both her hands and forearms when she attempted to defend herself.
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Gordon Aspen QC, prosecuting, claimed that the couple's marriage began to deteriorate in 2016, Daily Mail reported. By the time of the ruthless murder, a "truly toxic and acrimonious situation existed between them." Police reportedly visited the couple's home several times before the attack following reports of violence. They even advised the pair to separate.
Judge Timothy Spencer QC was given 16 reasons why the couple's marriage was so unhappy and disturbed, including the beginning of the lockdowns and their sons moving to university. Manisha worked with children with special education needs at Leicester College, while Solanki worked as a driver for disabled people at Leicester City Council. Solanki's defense included showing a video to the court where Manisha was allegedly seen attacking and swearing at him. However, the judge said Solanki's behavior in the video clip would have been affected as he knew it was going to be turned over to the police.
Following the guilty plea, Detective Inspector Jenni Heggs from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU) major crime team, said, "First and foremost, my thoughts are with friends and family of the Solankis at this very difficult time. During our investigation, it was determined that Kaushik Solanki was suffering from an abnormality of mental functioning which led to him taking his wife's life. While I appreciate today's outcome will not bring Manisha back, I hope it will provide a degree of closure and allow them to move on with their lives."
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255)