Kidderminster husband murder trial jury told to forget emotion
A jury in the trial of a cheating husband accused of murdering his wife have been urged by a judge to approach the case 'without emotion' as they prepare to consider their verdict.
Father-of-three Alan Evans, aged 35, denies throwing Louise down the stairs in their home and then smothering her to death after she discovered he was having an affair.
Mrs Evans, aged 32, was found dead next to a skipping rope at their house in Stoney Lane in Kidderminster on July 10 last year, the jury has been told.
A vacuum cleaner was also found at the top of the stairs with its hose uncoiled in a loop by the bathroom.
The tragedy happened following months of suspicion from part-time care assistant Mrs Evans over her husband of 12 years, who she believed may have been having a secret relationship, the trial heard.
Evans, an employed welder, had been seeing Amanda Chadwick, a teaching assistant at his children's school, for months behind her back.
Yesterday at Worcester Crown Court Mr Justice Hickinbottom began summing up the case to the jury.
He said: "The case is capable of bringing out strong emotion – many of the witnesses were visibly upset when they recalled what happened and how they reacted to it.
"You must approach your task without that emotion, set aside any sympathy you may have."
