A MAN accused of murdering his disabled wife was yesterday described at Teesside Crown Court as a caring husband.

Kenneth Hood, 57, of The Garth, Coulby Newham, near Middlesbrough, has denied the murder of his wife, Irene, 55, and has pleaded not guilty to two alternative charges of manslaughter, one alleging he caused her death by an assault and the other of causing her death by gross neglect.

In earlier prosecution evidence, the jury heard how wheelchair-bound Mrs Hood, who suffered from osteoporosis, was taken to Middlesbrough General Hospital on April 4 last year suffering from several fractures and severe bed sores.

Paul Worsley, prosecuting, told the hearing how Mrs Hood, whose left leg had been amputated some years earlier, had made a statement to the police claiming that her husband had twisted her right leg and had punched her on the breast and stomach.

But before her death, on May 14 last year, she had retracted the statement, the court was told.

Giving evidence, Mr Hood, who admitted both he and his wife were heavy drinkers, claimed that two weeks before his wife was taken to hospital she had accused him of watering down her vodka.

Mr Hood said as she lunged for the bottle, her wheelchair began to topple and as he jumped up to prevent her falling his leg got caught and he, his wife and the chair crashed to the floor.

Yesterday, the jury heard from the defendant's brother, Raymond Hood, who said that Irene and his brother visited his home on a number of occasions and were a normal happy couple and he never heard a wrong word between them.

Raymond Hood's estranged wife, Christine, told the hearing that while Mr and Mrs Hood lived an unhealthy lifestyle they were happy together.

She said: "I was really quite impressed by the way he looked after her. Ken took his wife everywhere. He never went anywhere without her.''

The trial continues