Jury hear mystery assailant theory

A mystery assailant may have slipped into a Telford woman’s flat and stabbed her bleeding boyfriend in the back while she was outside dialling 999 from a call box, a court heard.

The theory emerged during the trial of Wendy Walters, of Bembridge, Brookside, who denies murdering 45-year-old former police cadet Barry Evans.

Walters, 43, went into the witness box at Birmingham Crown Court yesterday to give her account of the events on July 7 which led to Mr Evans bleeding to death on her living room floor.

The prosecution alleges Walters returned from a shopping trip and stabbed Mr Evans eight times, including three times in the back, in a drunken row.

Walters claims he stabbed himself. The court has heard Mr Evans, of Hurleybrook Way, Leegomery, Telford, had a history of drinking, drug abuse and self-harm.

Walters was yesterday questioned by prosecution counsel Mr William Davies QC, who asked how Mr Evans came to have three wounds in his back.

Walters said just before she went outside to dial 999, she had seen no wounds on his back. Mr Davies said: “So you are saying somebody else comes into the flat…with a knife of the same type already used, which is now in the drawer, and stabs Mr Evans three times in the back with enough force to go through bone.”

Walters replied: “I am saying nothing.”

The trial continues.