A Ukrainian woman died shortly after a massive argument with her jealous husband, who, in a fit of rage, asked his friend to have sex with her because she was a “prostitute”, a court heard yesterday.

Liudmyla Nykytiuk, 35, died a slow death at the bottom of a shaft in the apartment block where she lived. However, before she “fell” in the shaft, the woman had had a huge fight with her husband, Sergii, who started hitting her during a party they held for their flatmate’s birthday, Police Inspector Chris Pullicino testified yesterday, making the case against the man.

The officer was testifying in the compilation of evidence against Mr Nykytiuk, 37, who is pleading not guilty to killing the woman last November.

Mrs Nykytiuk died after she tore an artery following her fall down the shaft, forensic expert Mario Scerri testified in a previous sitting, in which he also pointed out she had a good chance of surviving had she been given immediate medical help, given she had bled to death.

The argument, which was one of many, broke out during a birthday party for the couple’s flatmate, Roman Kovacuk, at the apartment they shared in St Paul’s Bay.

The accused was angry at an affair his wife had with another Ukrainian man, Vitali Pidkypnyi, who acknowledged in previous sittings he had slept with the victim. Mr Pidkypnyi had actually been invited to the party but left early when he saw trouble brewing, Insp. Pullicino said.

During the fight, Mr Nykytiuk barged into the bathroom, where Mr Kovacuk was sitting on the toilet, and told him to have sex with his wife because she was a prostitute. However, Mr Kovacuk refused, the witness said.

The police were informed at about 8.30 a.m. of Mrs Nykytiuk’s death and Insp. Pullicino arrived on site soon after. He found Mrs Nykytiuk lying in a shaft, with her jeans pulled down to her knees and with a black eye. Her husband was standing next to her.

The husband was immediately arrested but he strongly denied any knowledge of how his wife had died. However, his version changed during the interrogation and he said his wife “slipped” into the shaft when she ran off into the dark while they were arguing, Insp. Pullicino said.

Some neighbours had heard noises and called the police but the officers dispatched did not find anything when they arrived.

Insp. Pullicino’s testimony closed the prosecution’s case and Magistrate Saviour Demicoli sent the acts of the proceedings to the Attorney General.