Accused Kidderminster killer's family 'unhappy about affair'
The family of a love cheat accused of murdering his wife were 'not happy' when they discovered he had slept with his mistress after her death, his sister told the jury.
But Alan Evans told his sister, Tina Price, that Amanda Chadwick had stood by him and believed he was innocent of killing his wife.
Mrs Price admitted that Evans, aged 35, of Stoney Lane, Kidderminster, had earlier lied to their parents about having an affair with Ms Chadwick, a teaching assistant at his children's school.
Evans denies murdering his 32-year-old wife, Louise, at their home on July 10 last year.
The prosecution claims that he pushed her down stairs at their house and then smothered her, leaving a skipping rope and a vacuum hose at the scene to make the death look accidental.
Mrs Price told the jury at Worcester Crown Court that Evans 'adored' his wife, the mother of his three children, and they had 'the most perfect marriage'.
But Louise became concerned that Evans was texting Ms Chadwick, whose marriage was breaking down.
Mrs Price, a registered nurse, said: "Alan was everybody's best friend.
"He said Mandy needed somebody as a shoulder to cry on and he was there."
Later Louise had phoned Mrs Price 'distraught' because she was more concerned about the texting.
Evans went to stay with his sister overnight and told her his affair with Ms Chadwick was sexual.
But he had texted his mistress to call off the affair and would stay with Louise and the children.
Mrs Price said her brother told her he had loved Ms Chadwick and was infatuated with her, but never stopped loving Louise.
"He made it blatantly obvious he chose Louise and his children," said Mrs Price.
Under cross-examination by Mr Jonas Hankin QC, prosecuting, Mrs Price agreed that Evans had fallen out with their brother Barry, who was in America, and he wanted him to own up to his parents about the affair.
She agreed Evans had lied to the family, to his mother and father.
When asked if the family was 'horrified' to discover Evans had sex with Ms Chadwick within weeks of Louise's death, she replied: "We weren't happy that Alan continued his relationship. Alan told me Mandy stood by him and believed he was not guilty.
"He told me he had lost everybody in the world – his wife, his best friend and his children had been taken away from him."
The trial continues.
