In evidence the 128kg man acknowledged arguing with his wife before the incident but claimed he had fallen on her by mistake.

His 46-year-old victim later died of her injuries, including 18 broken ribs.

Expert evidence was heard that he must have sat on her for at least two minutes.

The victim died in hospital four weeks after the argument, which took place in central German city of Hildesheim in April 2006.

She was treated there only several days after the incident, with doctors finding just three broken ribs initially and discharging her after failing to read the X-rays properly.

"It was a painful death dragged out over weeks,'' the judge said, adding that the defendant had done nothing to assist his wife."