Man who stabbed wife to death in shop jailed

Man who stabbed wife to death in shop jailed

Tom Dunn; Jenny Coleman - North West

Fri, January 16, 2026 at 2:43 PM UTC

4 min read

Police custody image of Nimalarajah Mathiyaparanam with black hair and beard wearing a white patterned shirt. — Nimalarajah Mathiyaparanam changed his plea to guilty after the trial had started [Merseyside Police]

A man who stabbed his estranged wife in a "merciless attack" at the shop where she worked on Merseyside has been jailed.

Nimalarajah Mathiyaparanam, 47, admitted murdering Nilani Nimalarajah, 44, at Low Cost Food and Wine in Bootle, where she lived in a flat above with their daughters.

The judge told the court Mathiyaparanam, from Widnes, had been "angry" he had not been invited to a family event. His daughter said her "world had stopped" that day and she felt "betrayed" by her father.

Has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 28 years at Liverpool Crown Court.

At the sentencing hearing, Judge Brian Cummings KC said a pathologist had identified 14 stab wounds and four slash wounds and Mathiyaparanam had "acted with intent to kill".

He described the murder as "exceptionally cruel and brutal" which subjected the victim to "a high level of mental and physical suffering".

Nilani Nimalarajah has long black hair and is wearing a pink dress — Nilani Nimalarajah died from multiple stab wounds [Handout]

The judge said Mathiyaparanam had descended into alcoholism and his behaviour had become aggressive and unpredictable.

"You had not been invited to a family event but when you learned of this, you became angry," he said.

"The victim, who was by all accounts a kind and thoroughly decent woman, was trapped in the shop with you, in fear for her life," he said.

"Your actions demonstrate that you were determined to ensure your victim did not survive."

Bunches of flowers rest against a green brick wall in front of a stretch of blue and white police tape. Beyond the tape is a white forensic tent and a number of police patrol cars. — Flowers were laid outside the shop where Nilani Nimalarajah was stabbed to death [BBC]

In a victim impact statement read to the court, one of Mathiyaparanam's daughters, now 18, said: "Mum was my everything, we were best friends".

"On the day this happened, I felt like my dad had stabbed me in the back.

"I was shocked, lost for words and didn't know what to do. My world stopped around me.

"Even though there'd been previous incidents, I never dreamt of this happening. I never stopped loving my dad until that day.

"I lost my mum, dad, my home and myself."

She added: "The person who made me feel safe and loved is now gone. And the person who took her away was my dad, I feel betrayed to say the least.

"Dad's are meant to be people who protect the family, not destroy it."

She said losing her mum had "changed everything", adding: "She was the person who I went to for advice, comfort and support.

"She helped me get through school, plan my future, help me feel safe. Her absence is something I feel every day."

Mathiyaparanam pleaded guilty to murder and possessing a bladed article in public on the second day of his trial on Wednesday.

He had also previously pleaded guilty to breaching a restraining order, which had barred him from contacting his wife or daughter.

Judge Cummings KC told Mathiyaparanam he would not be considered for released until he had served the minimum term.

"The effect of this sentence is that you may never be released from prison", he added.

Det Ch Insp Alan Nuttall, who led the investigation, said: "This act of domestic violence is one of the worst I've seen during my time working at Merseyside Police.

"Mathiyaparanam carried out his pre-meditated and targeted attack when there were plenty of people around, it was rush hour traffic on the street outside and lots of witnesses.

"He was clearly intent on killing Nilani on this afternoon and simply didn't care about the consequences."

After his arrest, the force said Mathiyaparanam ingested an unknown substance and ended up in hospital.

Nuttall said he hoped the sentencing would help the family, adding: "We have been determined to get justice not only for Nilani, but also their children and our thoughts remain with them."

He urged anyone who may be a victim of domestic abuse, or know someone who might be, to contact police or a local support service.

If you have been affected by the issues raised in this story you can visit the BBC Action Line for support.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.

Man who stabbed wife to death in shop jailed

Man who stabbed wife to death in shop jailed

More on this story

Related internet links