THE sister of a man accused of murdering his wife has denied that she attended court to lie for him.

Nurse Tina Price was the last witness called by the defence in the trial at Worcester Crown Court of 35-year-old Alan Evans, who is charged with killing his wife Louise, 32, by pushing her down the stairs at their home in Stoney Lane, Kidderminster, in July last year.

She said the Evans seemed to have a perfect marriage for 18 years and they doted on each other and their three children.

But, seven weeks before her death, Louise had been concerned when she discovered texts from her husband to another woman.

When she confronted him, he admitted they were to Amanda Chadwick, whose marriage was breaking down and he was "a shoulder to cry on".

When he came to stay at her house for a few days, Mrs Price said her brother confided that the affair was sexual and he was infatuated with Ms Chadwick, a classroom assistant at their children's school.

Louise was still his best friend and he had let her down badly, she told the court.

Cross-examined by prosecution barrister Jonas Hankin QC, the witness denied Evans had lied to his family about the affair.

Mrs Price described Louise as a laid-back person whose husband had let her down.

"You don't know what happened inside that house on July 9," said Mr Hankin.

She replied: "I only wish I did."

In reply to Rudi Forston QC, defending, Mrs Price said her brother told her that the case had cost him his wife, children and friendship.

He had rekindled his sexual relationship with Ms Chadwick because she had shown him some affection and that she had not come to court to lie for her brother.

Another defence witness, mother-of-three Sophie Rudge, said she first met Louise at Worcester hospital seven years ago.

Their families had kept in touch and regularly visited each other at their homes, in Gloucester and Kidderminster.

She described the Evans couple as "cuddly, affactionate people".

Evans idolised his wife but she was an untidy person, leaving things lying about, Mrs Rudge said.

She thought Alan Evans was a "top bloke" but Louise had been upset, gutted and angry when she discovered the affair. Later, she seemed happy and said they were going to make a go of their marriage and planned a holiday in Spain.

Mr Hankin queried whether witness still thought Evans was a top person when details of his affair leaked out.

She replied: "It is wrong what he did."

Mr Hankin said Evans had called his wife names and joked about the IVF treatment she had undergone.

He even had sex with his mistress in the marital bed, he said.

Did she still think he was a top bloke?

"Maybe not," she said, but added later: "I still think the world of him."

The trial continues.