Mei Fan murder trial: Victim 'dragged by the ankles to a balcony'

Mei Fan was found dead in November 2013 having been subject to a frenzied knife attack. Photo / Supplied

The man accused of murdering Mei Fan once dragged her by the ankles to a balcony five floors off the ground, where he then held her over the edge, a court has heard.

Ms Fan made the claim in an affidavit to the courts when she was seeking a protection order against her estranged husband Michael Preston, 60.

Preston is now on trial for Ms Fan's murder. The 37-year-old was found dead in November 2013 having been subject to a frenzied knife attack.

Today, today the court had read to it a statement Ms Fan filed in 2012 about her relationship with Preston.

The pair met in China and while still over there, in 2006, Preston once became violent towards her, she wrote.

Ms Fan described a frightening incident after the pair argued. Ms Fan said she wanted him to leave and threw his suitcase to the floor.

He dragged her by the ankles to a balcony and lifted her over the edge, five floors high.

"He then pulled me down and told me he was only trying to scare me," Ms Fan wrote.

She was moved to apply for a protection order after an "agitated" Preston came to the shop Ms Fan worked at and told customers she was having sex with other men.

The pair's children were present.

"The children looked very confused and scared. Not knowing what to do, the followed their dad out of the shop."

Michael Preston in the dock during his trial for the murder of Mei Fan. Photo / Mark Mitchell, NZ Herald

After that, Ms Fan said Preston would call and text her.

Ms Fan said she was frightened of Preston's threats to have her deported, such as when he messaged her and said he was in a queue at the immigration office, five from the front.

Preston returned to Ms Fan's work four times to again accuse her of having sex with other men.

"I feel very fearful of him as since October 10, 2012, the number of text messages he sends me has increased and they have become more threatening," Ms Fan wrote.

Preston then tried to win her back and she said the messages alternated between being nice and being threatening and Ms Fan said his behaviour became "unpredictable".

She said she was scared of going to work and sometimes Preston would send texts letting her know he was watching her.

A temporary protection order was granted on October 18, 2012.

The trial continues.