A woman who left her husband to die inside a folding couch has avoided jail.

Vera Lukyanova, 55, shut her partner inside their settee after he insulted her. The victim was discovered between the mattress and the back of the couch wearing only his pants.

The incident took place in July in St Petersburg.

Lukyanova left her husband inside the couch for three hours before returning to him. However, he suffocated and rescue workers were unable to reach him in time.

Lukyanova was allegedly drunk during the incident and now faces a one-year suspended sentence.