THERE were dramatic scenes at court today as a member of the jury in a murder trial fainted after a judge described the horrific injuries Burnham-on-Sea woman Lisa Marie Thornton sustained.

The trial, at Bristol Crown Court, is over the case of 36-year-old Ms Thornton, of Berrow Road, Burnham, who died after sustaining 39 stab wounds to her chest, neck and back on November 23 last year. 

Owen Pellow, 42, of Berrow Road, Burnham, appeared in the dock at Bristol Crown Court today (May 25) charged with her murder, a charge he denies.

This morning the jury heard the closing statements from the defence and prosecution barristers. 


PELLOW TRIAL: Owen Pellow tells court he 'can't remember making that wound' 


But this afternoon, as Judge Peter Blair was talking about Ms Thornton's injuries while summing up evidence for the jury, a juror lost consciousness and had to be removed from the court room. 

The trial was paused while the juror was by an usher.

Summing up the arguments for the prosecution, Edward Burgess said it would be 'ridiculous' for a jury to believe Ms Thornton's injuries were self inflicted.  

"His (Pellow) performance in court when he was giving evidence yesterday was just as I said a performance calculated make everything look like it was Lisa's fault claiming that her loss of life was her fault not his," Mr Burgess said. 

"Mr Thornton told social services that Pellow was controlling and abusive and became physically abusive to her after he was intoxicated.

"He has continued to say every problem in their relationship was her fault and claimed he was never abusive to her. 

"The assertion that these injuries were self inflicted flies in the face of all reason."

Mr Burgess said the idea he tried to stab a knife through both of their hearts 'doesn't make sense'.

"He was certain he caused no injury to her until two weeks after he had a legal visit and spoke to Andrea Warren," Mr Burgess said. 

"It was only then that he told her he had dreams of stabbing her in the back.

"Even the defendant can't accept that Ms Thornton stabbed herself in the back, the pathologist said it was almost impossible for her to have done it to herself."


PELLOW TRIAL: More than 30 images of victim after stabbing found on accused's phone


The prosecution told the court Ms Thornton was 'clearly dead' when 37 still images and one video clip of her were taken on Pellow's phone and said Pellow could have taken the video so it could help him to explain the incident.

"Why would a man who loved a woman who had seen her take her own life want to remember her in that way?", Mr Burgess said.

"Why have 37 images of that?

"Pellow reports he doesn't recall making that video but he has recollection of other points.

"Maybe he thought the video woud be something that would help him explain events in the future, maybe he was keeping it for other purposes.

"When we look at the injuries, the force used, it had to be that he was in a frenzy, these are the the traits of a murderer."

Speaking in defence of Pellow, Richard Smith said while he doesn't dispute the pathologists evidence, Pellow does not have any previous criminal convictions for physical violence. 

He told the court that Pellow only did his best to help Ms Thornton and there was not one example of him being violent toward her. 

"He has spoken in messages to friends and family about trying to help her through her problems even though he was not very good at it," Mr Smith said. 

"As he said yesterday (May 24), Pellow collects knives, he has a collection of more than 200 of them but he did not hide the fact that he owned them. 

"Just because he has a collection of knives doesn't mean he is going to use them for a criminal act."

Mr Smith told the court Pellow does not remember taking the pictures but said he did not mention them as they were 'private'. 

He told the court the defendant is a 'passive person' and said records showed he said he had been the victim of physical and emotional abuse from Ms Thornton. 


READ MORE: Stabbing victim's injuries 'not self-inflicted', court told


"In a video clip on Pellow's phone which was filmed after Ms Thornton died he can be heard saying 'you didn't need to do this, he is not gone, we can still try and build something forever'. 

"Why would he say this if he didn't care for Ms Thornton?"

Judge Blair postponed summing up until Tuesday (May 29) after which the jury will retire to consider the verdict.