An NHS worker murdered his wife just weeks after an earlier domestic abuse case collapsed.
Kasikai Chinyanga, 47, brutally killed Veronica Chinyanga who begged for her life as her husband turned on her in the back garden of their home in Broxburn, West Lothian last June 9.
The 42 year-old mum had predicted Chinyanga may not forgive her for previously reporting him to police.
Veronica was repeatedly struck with a pronged garden tool before being stabbed in the stomach with a knife.
Chinyanga was described as “calm” moments after the killing.
He now faces a life sentence after he admitted to a murder charge at the High Court in Glasgow on Wednesday.
The couple had moved to Scotland in 2008 from Zimbabwe.
They had a teenage son together. Veronica’s 20 year-old daughter also lived with them.
Chinyanga worked in finance for the NHS. He was training to be an accountant at the time.
His wife – born Chitsidzo, but known as Veronica – was involved in a project to help international health workers adapt to a new country.
Prosecutor Wojciech Jadelski told how there had been “a history of domestic incidents” between the couple.
He added: “Despite some being reported, criminal proceedings were not concluded due to an apparent reluctance on the part of Veronica Chinyanga to attend court.
“In particular, her second failure to attend as a witness in a summary trial on May 27 2024 – two weeks before (the murder) – lead to dis-continuation of the case.”
The charge had included a claim Chinyanga had been aggressive with his wife, struggled with her and pushed the mum in early 2023.
On June 2 2024, Veronica texted one of her sisters that she believed her husband “was not going to forgive her” and was “bitter” at her calling police in connection with that alleged incident.
Hours before the killing, Veronica had been with her children at an awards ceremony for her son’s football team. Chinyanga did not attend.
Veronica then drove home alone. Chinyanga later picked up his step-daughter and her boyfriend before giving her the keys for the car.
The couple then ended up alone in their home that night.
Veronica’s last message was at 7.38pm asking her daughter to bring their car back as her son needed collected.
Around 10 minutes later, neighbours – including young children – were aware of a “disturbance” at the couple’s three-bed semi.
Mr Jadelski then explained: “Chinyanga carried out a violent and sustained assault on his wife which lasted for several minutes.
“At the outset, they were inside the house and then made their way into the rear garden.
“Chinyanga repeatedly struck Veronica on the head and body with a metal cultivator tool.”
Veronica desperately attempted to defend herself, but her husband continued the onslaught.
She yelled: “He is trying to kill me.”
Audio footage from a nearby CCTV camera captured her horrific screams. This was played during the today’s hearing.
At one stage, Veronica tried to clamber over their six-foot garden fence, but was dragged back down.
Shocked neighbours repeatedly yelled on him to stop.
The advocate depute: “Chinyanga did not say anything during the assault and did not seem to be panicking.”
He casually walked back into his house before returning now carrying a knife.
He went up to Veronica – stricken on the ground – and continued the assault lashing out with the blade. Chinyanga was heard to shout “why?”.
The expressionless killer finally stopped, walked out his front door and asked a neighbour to phone the police.
He was initially arrested for assault with his wife still alive at that time.
But, en-route to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, Veronica’s condition deteriorated.
She went into cardiac arrest, resuscitation attempts were made at hospital, but she sadly did not survive.
The mum had suffered a fatal stab wound to the abdomen thought to have been caused by the knife.
She also had other injuries including to her head.
The court heard Chinyanga began crying when told his wife had died.
Lord Mulholland adjourned the case until next month when Chinyanga is expected to learn the minimum he will spend bars.
The judge stated: “This was a brutal assault on a defenceless woman.”
Chinyanga remains in custody meantime.