A HUSBAND paid tribute to his “gorgeous” wife, the doting mother to their three children – as the man accused of her murder appeared in court.

Jeanette Goodwin, 47, remembered as a hard-working woman who always put others first, was attacked at her home in Quebec Avenue, Southend, on Sunday night. She later died in hospital.

A post-mortem revealed she had suffered multiple stab wounds. Her former boyfriend Martin Bunch, 43, of Southchurch Road, Southend, has been charged with murder.

Mark Goodwin, who was separated from his wife, said: “She was such a hard-working, caring mother who put everyone before herself. She put her children first more than anything, to the point of distraction. ”

She leaves her daughter aged 20, and two sons aged 16 and 13.

In fact, Mrs Goodwin had been looking forward to spending time with them all on a family camping trip planned for next weekend.

Mr Goodwin, 48, who lives in Westcliff, added: “She was looking forward to going camping. She was excited about it, talking about what she was going to wear and what the kids needed to take.”

Always smartly dressed, she worked hard as a personal assistant for property firm MRM in Rayleigh.

Mr Goodwin said: “She was gorgeous, she was smart, clever, she could do anything, basically. She was a personal assistant and very, very good at it. She was just trying to get her life back together.”

Her boss, Michael Chittenden also spoke of his sadness at losing a highly respected colleague.

Mr Chittenden, 47, from Suffolk, said: “Jeanette had worked for me for 17 years as PA and in accounts. I am missing her very much. She wasn’t just an employee, but also a friend. We watched each other’s children grow up.

“I was told what had happened by one of her friends on Monday. It’s terrible. She was a such a soft, gentle person and very kind.”