Man accused of wife's murder kissed another woman

Mohamed Samak denies murdering interior designer Joanne Samak in the early hours of 1 July last year

A man accused of stabbing his wife to death kissed another woman he had developed feelings for because he missed "romance", a court has heard.

Egyptian national Mohamed Samak, 42, denies killing Joanne Samak, 49, at their home in Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire, on 1 July last year.

The ex-international hockey player claims his wife's six stab wounds were self-inflicted, because she was suffering from mental health and alcohol issues.

But prosecutors at Worcester Crown Court argue that Mr Samak killed his wife because of financial difficulties and becoming interested in another woman.

Giving evidence on Thursday, Mr Samak said his marriage "wasn't the best" and admitted he had rekindled contact with a woman from France that he had met in 2009 when he worked at a hotel in Egypt.

Mr Samak told the court they developed feelings for each other but contact fizzled out after she had left, and they did not speak again until the Covid lockdown in 2020.

He admitted he kissed the woman after they went for a meal at a restaurant on 15 June last year when she was visiting London, but he said he did not tell his wife about the meeting because he did not want to upset her.

"She said we shouldn't have done this and I agreed with what she said and I apologised," Mr Samak said. "It wasn't right because I'm a married man."

He told the court he enjoyed speaking to the woman because he could share feelings that he could not share with his wife.

"I liked talking to her, I liked the feelings I was missing with Jo, someone that you have a conversation with about personal feelings," he said.

"It's not about an affair," he added. "I think I was missing the romance side of things. She filled that part, and that's what it was."

Mr Samak, who had become emotional whilst giving evidence, added he never wanted to leave his marriage and wanted it to work.

"I was fortunate to have Jo and the marriage wasn't the best but it's not that I think about leaving or thinking about having a different relationship with someone," he said.

'Never argued or raised voices'

About four days after meeting the woman, Mr Samak said he told his wife he was having feelings for someone else.

"I didn't want to mention her name or what happened, but share that we need to have a chat together because I met with someone and started to have feelings," he explained.

"She was emotional and crying. She was upset. I was the same and I told her I promise you this is not something that is serious, I can't leave you and it's just the feelings I'm missing with you."

The defendant told the court the couple never argued or raised their voices at each other and never had disagreements about money.

In the years before his wife's death, he said he had become concerned about how much alcohol she was drinking.

The trial continues.