A woman who was found in an underground space in Kalkara three days after she went missing changed part of her testimony, a court heard today.

A court expert testifying in the compilation of evidence against Roddy Williams, who stands charged with the attempted murder and rape of his wife Nathalie Williams, said the woman had first told him that she had been kidnapped but later asked to change her version.

Testifying before Magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit, court-appointed expert Richard Sladden said Nathalie Williams’ second version was that she had willingly got into her husband’s car.

When asked why she was changing her version, the woman told Sladden that she was afraid of her husband and did not want to get in trouble with the law.

Defence lawyer Franco Debono asked why, if she had been afraid of her husband, would she invent that she had been kidnapped.

He pointed out that in the second version the woman said she had called her husband to meet and talk.

The witness said Nathalie Williams had not explained why she had done so.

Debono then pointed out that there had been the allegation that the woman’s head had been held underwater.

Sladden pointed out that the woman had claimed, from the start, that she had been thrown in the water but never said her head had been held under. This allegation might have surfaced in the news, the witness said.

The court also heard that the victim had once refused her husband’s sexual advances, but consented on subsequent occasions. The court heard that the couple had sex four times during the time she was held in the underground space.

The woman was left without food and drink during that time, and her mobile phone had been taken from her before she went underground.

Another witness, obstetrician and gynaecologist Joanna Ghigo, said she had been tasked with examining the victim for evidence of rape.

The woman said she had at first refused sex but was her husband made threats against her father and children. At this point she offered no resistance.

The witness said the woman also said she had been threatened with a piece of glass. No marks or bruising were found. “The vulva looked normal,” the witness said.

Swabs and samples were taken and examined. Ghigo said there were no obvious lesions suggesting forced penetration but added that that it would be difficult to ascertain if there was forced penetration on a woman the victim’s age and who had had two vaginal deliveries.

The last witness today, architect Mario Cassar, who had drawn up a site plan of the area in Kalkara, said he was impressed by how dark the place was. He added that there was no air current in the cave, making it hard to breathe.  “It was like a grave. When you go inside...the actual chamber gives you the impression of a Punic grave.”

The case continues on 27 November.

Lawyer Franco Debono is defence counsel. Lawyer Ludwig Caruana is appearing parte civile for the victim. Police Inspectors Josric Mifsud and Paula Ciantar are prosecuting.