A woman whose husband cut off both her hands with an axe said the attack was triggered because he saw text messages she received from a male admirer.
Margarita Grachyova, 25, had her fingers crushed before her arms were severed at the wrists in a jealous rage by her spouse Dmitry, 26, a trained psychologist.
The horrific attack came after she had demanded a divorce following previous threats and violence – and the pair were living apart.
Doctors have sewn back one hand but it is still unclear if the Russian woman will regain use of it.
Margarita Grachyova (left), 25, had her fingers crushed before her arms were severed at the wrists in a jealous rage by her spouse Dmitry (right), 26, a trained psychologist
The horrific attack came after she had demanded a divorce following previous threats and violence – and the pair were living apart. Pictured: Margarita enjoying a day at the beach before the gruesome attack
Asked in a court cage if he repented for this ‘stupid thing’, Dmitry said: ‘Yes I do’. Before driving her to a forest where he attacked her, he messaged his mother and sister saying: ‘Please excuse me. I can’t live like this any longer, when I am cheated’
The other hand was so badly mangled in the barbaric medieval-style attack – during which she remained conscious – that it was impossible to save.
Doctors have sewn back one hand but it is still unclear if the Russian woman will regain use of it
‘I filed for divorce,’ said the distraught woman who had two children, aged three and four, with her violent husband.
‘Then he saw my text exchange with a (male) colleague.’
It is believed he knew she had started dating a male colleague from work, and had followed her to the cinema.
She said he got ‘jealous’, adding: ‘Sorry, it is very painful for me to recall all this now.’
Dmitry Grachyov has been remanded in custody until February, and faces up to 15 years in jail if convicted.
He immediately confessed to police that he attacked her with an axe after driving her to a forest after the pair had dropped their children at nursery school.
Asked in a court cage if he repented for this ‘stupid thing’ he said: ‘Yes I do.’
He added: ‘Stupid thing is a soft way to say it.’
Before driving her to a forest where he attacked her, he messaged his mother and sister saying: ‘Please excuse me. I can’t live like this any longer, when I am cheated.’
Dmitry Grachyov has been remanded in custody until February, and faces up to 15 years in jail if convicted
‘I filed for divorce,’ said the distraught woman who had two children, aged three and four, with her violent husband. ‘Then he saw my text exchange with a (male) colleague’
It is believed he knew she had started dating a male colleague from work, and had followed her to the cinema. Pictured: The couple together before the brutal disfiguration
He crushed her fingers with the axe handle and cut her on the hip (pictured), say reports based on police sources
Earlier he had told work colleagues: ‘You will soon hear about me.’
He crushed her fingers with the axe handle and cut her on the hip, say reports based on police sources.
The he axed off both her hands.
Next he drove her to hospital and handed himself into police.
Margarita’s mother Inna Sheikina said: ‘His jealousy was pathological.
‘He was sure she was unfaithful.
‘Once he even took her to be tested by a lie detector’.
Margarita agreed to this test because she wanted to prove to her husband that she was innocent.
He was convinced their younger child was not his.
The test result showed she had not betrayed him.
Before the attack, Margarita had told friends of their close relationship and said she wanted to stay with him and celebrate their wedding anniversary together. Pictured: Their wedding day
He had previously driven her to the forest in November and attacked her with a knife, demanding she give up the idea of divorce. Pictured: Margarita
Dmitry immediately confessed to police that he attacked her with an axe after driving her to a forest after the pair had dropped their children at nursery school
Margarita said Dmitry had previously threatened to pour acid over her face. After this, Margarita and her mother demanded that he move out. Pictured: Margarita with her children
Margarita had called the police over her husband’s behaviour several times before.
He had previously driven her to the forest in November and attacked her with a knife, demanding she give up the idea of divorce.
At the time he threatened to pour acid over her face.
After this, Margarita and her mother demanded that he move out.
‘All of us asked him to leave and he finally went to live with his mother,’ said Inna. ‘I spoke to him myself’
He tailed his wife when she took their children to the cinema with her male friend from work, say reports. Pictured: Dmitry in court
‘Their family pictures show what a happy family they were until recently,’ said a friend. ‘Then he attacks her like this in a jealous rage’
The macabre attack occurred near Panikovo village, near Serpukhov in Moscow region on 11 December
‘All of us asked him to leave and he finally went to live with his mother,’ said Inna. ‘I spoke to him myself. ‘
Pictured: Margarita posing with a pomegranate during happier times
He tailed his wife when she took their children to the cinema with her male friend from work, say reports.
After this, he initially ‘promised to change his ways and wanted to get back together,’ said one account.
‘He helped her with the children, taking them to the kindergarten.
‘He stopped threatening everybody and asked forgiveness for what he had done.’
Earlier Margarita had told friends of their close relationship and said she wanted to stay with him and celebrate their wedding anniversary together.
‘Their family pictures show what a happy family they were until recently,’ said a friend.
‘Then he attacks her like this in a jealous rage.’
The macabre attack was near Panikovo village, near Serpukhov in Moscow region on 11 December.