Dr Jimmy Lee of the Insititue of Mental Health said the 32-year-old factory production operator had been warded twice at IMH. Both times, psychiatrists said she was not intent on killing herself.

Bt she did suffer from an adjustment disorder, which is when an individual experiences emotional and behavioural disturbances because of stress.

Dr Lee said Madam Smaelmerral had threatened suicide over her husband's infidelity.

She was found dead at the foot of Block 181 Sterling Road at 4.40am on July 1 last year. Her 40-year-old husband Tharema Vejayan Govindasamy, an odd-job worker, is on trial for allegedly murdering her.

Dr Lee told the High Court that Madam Smaelmeeral was first brought to IMH by police officers on March 30, 2006. She appeared fearful when talking about her husband but calmed down the next morning.

She told doctors that she had applied for a personal protection order as her husband had a history of violent behaviour and had assaulted her even when she was pregnant with their second child, who was born in November 2005.

Dr Lee also noticed that her left cheek was swollen.

She visited IMH again on June 10, accompanied by her husband, who started shouting at hospital staff and insisting that his wife had no mental problems and should not be admitted.

The next day, she asked to be discharged as she was feeling better.

Although she was not seen at IMH again, Tharema appeared in February 2007 to ask for help in locating her as she had walked out on him and their two children three weeks earlier.

She had told him that she wanted a divorce but he had refused.

Hearing continues.