Suspect abroad during murder hunt (From Runcorn and Widnes World)

Suspect abroad during murder hunt

5:13pm Tuesday 5th February 2013 in News

MURDER suspect Michael Eves travelled overseas while police were hunting for him, Chester Crown Court has heard.

He flew to Tenerife with friends on December 31, 2010, and didn’t come home until August 2011.

A warrant was issued for his arrest when he failed to appear in court for a charge of affray in January 2011.

Eves said he took the unplanned holiday to escape his relationship problems and recover from the death of his 28-year-old brother Stephen, who died in a car crash in May that year.

Eves told the jury: “I was going to stay ‘til the summer.

“I had trouble with my girlfriend and a terrible time after losing my brother.”

He flew to Barcelona in January 2011, and met his girlfriend Lizzy and his dad Steven.

Eves said: “My dad was trying to get me and Lizzy to sort things out.”

He then moved to Amsterdam and paid for his other girlfriend, Sammy Owens, to fly out to visit him.

Days later, he admitted texting Lizzy, saying he was going to find somewhere for them to live together for a few months.

Eves said: “I didn’t know what I was going to do.

“I wanted her to know there was still that possibility.”

A false sick note from someone claiming to be Eves was given to the court while he was abroad.