THE husband of Karen Wild, who was stabbed to death at her Hanbury home, has paid tribute to his "devoted" and "loving" wife.

Paramedics found 43-year-old Karen at the family's rented house in School Road with serious stab wounds at around 4.30pm on Thursday, January 30. Despite their efforts she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Her 22-year-old son, Lian Wild, who is partially sighted, was arrested a short time after and has been charged with her murder.

Her husband, Ian Wild, has now paid tribute to his wife. He said: "She was a very devoted and loving mum. Her children were everything to her.

"It will be that memory that will help us move forward in the future.

"I loved her very much and will miss her terribly.

The pair, who have two other children, are well-known for playing a vital role in saving Droitwich Spa Lido. They formed key parts of both the Save a Lido Today (SALT) and Friends of Droitwich Spa Lido (FODSL) groups.

The couple focused their attention on saving the historic town facility after the death of another of their children in 2002.

"It was that early tragic loss that led us to try and save the lido," remembered Ian. "We wanted to get involved in the community and meet more people after that happened.

"We both remembered going there when we were younger and thought we should try and help."

After the lido was re-opened, Mr Wild became a town councillor for Droitwich for a short period. However, Karen decided against politics, choosing to spend more time with her children instead.

The family lived in Ombersley, Droitwich and Astwood Bank, Redditch, before moving to Hanbury nearly two years ago.

Karen's mother, Sheila Davis, 73, added: "She was my best friend. She had so much strength and courage over the years.

"She was a very determined person and had a very clever sense of humour.

"Her children came first. Everything she did, she did for them."

Lian Wild is now due to stand trial at the end of July.

He did not appear in the dock for a preliminary hearing at Worcester Crown Court today because he was not well enough to leave the prison where he has been remanded in custody.

Daren Samat, defending, told the court he had spoken to the prison authorities earlier in the day and they had decided Wild was not well enough to make the journey. Concerns were raised over his fitness to plead when he appeared at Worcester magistrates at the weekend.

Stephen Davies, prosecuting, said a trial date had been identified at Birmingham Crown Court starting on July 28 before Judge Patrick Thomas.

Lian Wild is now due to make his next appearance in court for a plea hearing on May 19.

An inquest into Mrs Wild's death was opened and adjourned at Worcestershire Coroner's Court, Stourport-on-Severn, on Monday.