Colleen Adams’ sister, Heather Johncock, tells of food fight before alleged murder in trial of Geoffrey Adams
The sister of Colleen Adams – who was allegedly murdered by her husband in 1973 – has told a jury of a heated argument between the couple in the months before her death.
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Food was “thrown everywhere” during a serious argument between Colleen Adams and her husband in the months before she was allegedly murdered, a jury has been told.
Geoffrey Adams, 71, is accused of murdering his wife at their home in Maitland in November 1973.
Ms Adams’ sister Heather Johncock gave evidence during the second day of the Supreme Court murder trial on Tuesday.
She said there was one “real bad argument” in the months before her sister was allegedly murdered.
The jury was told Geoffrey Adams called the family over immediately after the argument.
Ms Johncock said when she arrived at the pair’s Maitland home, she found “food and everything thrown around everywhere”.
“There was just food thrown all around inside, it was just one big mess.”
Ms Adams had gone to visit a friend nearby after the argument, but soon returned for tea with the family.
“We all sat around and talked and my dad chastised (Colleen) about the way she acted,” Ms Johncock said.
“(Colleen) didn’t say a word, she had no remorse, no nothing, she just sat there. I can still see her face.”
Adams has pleaded guilty to manslaughter, admitting he hit his wife over the head twice with a 30cm metal pole, but has denied intending to kill her.
He initially told police that his wife left home on November 22, 1973, never to be seen again.
Prosecutor Jim Pearce QC said Adams had claimed his wife said “goodbye you little bastards” to her children before leaving.
In 2018, Adams led police to her body buried in the Maitland property’s backyard.
Responding to questions from Mr Pearce on Tuesday, Ms Johncock said her sister was “a real loving mother” who spoke about her children all the time.
“She was always saying how they had progressed with their development ... and what they had done,” Ms Johncock said.
The trial continues.