A widow told a court this afternoon how her husband had been fed solid food on several occasions despite specific instructions that he was to consume only soft foods.

Eileen Darmanin was testifying in the compilation of evidence against chief nurse Maria Bondin, 57, from Paola, nursing aide Carol Bonnici, 55, from Siġġiewi, and nurse David Sant, 30, from Għargħur, who are pleading not guilty to the involuntary homicide of John Darmanin.

Mr Darmanin, a dementia patient, had been found dead in a toilet of one of the wards of Karen Grech Hospital on March 7, 2012.

At the time, he was on a strict diet of fluids and soft food after having suffered a stroke. There was also a sign affixed to his bed frame. An autopsy established that he had in fact choked on a piece of chicken.

Ms Darmanin told Magistrate Anthony Vella how her husband suffered a stroke on January 10, 2012. He also had internal bleeding after he fell.

An emotional Ms Darmanin questioned how her husband spent 90 minutes dead in a toilet without any alarm being raised, despite the proximity to the nurses' room.

She explained that nurses were instructed to supervise her husband as he was eating but despite the soft food diet, her husband was frequently given solid food including brussel sprouts and bread.

"Two weeks before, he was given a pie and when I told the nurse, she had told me that there was no more food for him,” she said.

Another time, she said, her husband's face had swelled up because he had a piece of bread lodged in his throat.

Ms Darmanin said her husband died at Karen Grech hospital.

The case continues.

Lawyer Stefan Filletti appeared in parte civile for the Darmanin family, lawyer Lucio Sciriha appeared for Ms Bondin, lawyer Steve Tonna Lowell for Mr Bonnici and lawyer Kris Scicluna for Mr Sant.