Child killed 'over wife's affair'

Ryan Hawkins was killed by his father, a court is told.

A man killed his four-year-old son and stabbed his teenage daughter as an act of revenge on his wife who started an affair and left him, a court heard.

Christopher Hawkins, 47, from Slaithwaite near Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, denies murdering his son Ryan on 23 September last year.

He also denies attempting to murder 14-year-old Donna by stabbing her at least 13 times.

Leeds Crown Court heard Mr Hawkins was aggrieved at his wife leaving him.

Prosecutor Simon Myerson QC told the jury that Mr Hawkins and his wife Valerie separated earlier in 2007 when she told him she no longer loved him.

But he later discovered his estranged wife had begun an affair with a driver at the taxi firm where she worked, while they were still living together.

Mr Myerson said: "The defendant was extremely unhappy about Valerie's relationship.

He only thought about getting back at her Prosecutor Simon Myerson QC

"Here is a man who took out his anger and his grievances on other people."

On that weekend Ryan, who had just celebrated his fourth birthday, had been staying at his father's house

When Donna arrived to pick up her brother as arranged, she found that the little boy had wet himself and changed him.

When she tried to leave, she found the front door was locked.

Hawkins apologised and then stabbed his daughter at least 13 times with a knife, causing multiple injuries to her face, chest, abdomen, arm and thigh.

Mr Myerson continued: "Donna saw the knife raised in his hand and he said 'I've got to kill Ryan now'."

Donna managed to unlock the front door and escape, carrying her phone.

"He simply lost his temper, he did what he wanted to do, he didn't think about Ryan or Donna, he only thought about getting back at her."

The case continues.