A “jealous” engineer has confessed to killing and dismembering his wife with an axe, then packing her head and limbs in a suitcase, Russian authorities say.

Nikolay Tikhonov, 29, allegedly slaughtered his wife then threw torso from the window of their St Petersburg flat.

The alleged attack came after wife Lyubov, 24, demanded a divorce from her “controlling husband” who forbade her any contacts with other men, according to reports.

The couple had a daughter aged one.

Tikhonov was detained soon after her death.

According to their Neighbours, he was “very jealous” and prevented her speaking even to male family friends.

He allegedly killed his wife by striking her on the head three times with an axe, which he then used to dismember her body, according to law enforcement.

Due to increase in jealousy, the wife had demanded a divorce, he invited her for a meal in a restaurant on their wedding anniversary to try and change her mind.

But he also sent her death threats, say reports.

A criminal case for murder was opened.