MURDER accused Alan Evans confided in his best friend that he was cheating on his wife six weeks before her death at their home, a court was told.

The 35-year-old, who is accused of killing his wife Louise in July last year, told neighbour and fellow workmate Delwyn Smith he was having an affair with 30-year-old teaching assistant Am-anda Chadwick.

Mr Smith told a jury at Worcester Crown Court that Evans, a 35-year-old welder, made the revelation in the kitchen of their semi-detached house, in Stoney Lane, Kidderminster.

Evans swore him to secrecy and showed him pictures of Mrs Chadwick, saying he loved her.

But two weeks before 32-year-old Mrs Evans’ death, Evans said he had ended the affair and changed his telephone number so she could not text him.

Mr Smith said Louise had found out by accident about the affair and the text messages.

On the night of Mrs Evans’ death, he was roused by Ev-ans knocking on his door.

When he went across the road, he saw Mrs Evans lying dead at the foot of the stairs.

There was a skipping rope near the body but Evans, who pleads not guilty to murder, never told him how his wife, who had seemed happy and her normal self earlier in the evening, had come to be in that position.

In answer to Rudi Fortson QC, defending, Mr Smith described Evans as “a superb neighbour” who was always cheerful and friendly al-though he was “a bit of a joker”.

They were a model loving couple with three children and there had never been arguments or violence between them, he said, and after his wife’s death, Evans was distraught and appeared to be a broken man.

Prosecutor Jonas Hankin QC read statements to the court from people who were soon on the scene.

Paramedic Sarah Gore arr-ived just after midnight and noticed Mrs Evans’ lips were blue, there was discolouration to the face and the body was cold. Evans said he had been watching TV in the lounge and came out to find the body.

Police Sgt Adrian Maiden said he was concerned be-cause the incident seemed suspicious and ordered the arrest of Evans.

It was carried out by PC Richard Allen, who said Evans said “I have not murdered my wife” on the way to the station.

There was no evidence of a break-in at the house.

The trial continues.