A PATHOLOGIST who examined the body of Lisa Marie-Thornton said her injuries ‘were not self inflicted’, a court heard.

Lisa Marie Thornton, 36, of Berrow Road, was found dead at Owen Pellow’s home on November 23 last year.

Ms Thornton’s ex-partner, Owen Pellow, 42, of Berrow Road, Burnham, is on trial for her murder at Bristol Crown Court – a charge he denies.

In an opening statement on Monday (May 21), prosecutor Edward Burgess told the court Ms Thornton and Pellow had been in a ‘volatile’ relationship since 2015 and had a son in 2016 who was later adopted. 

The court heard Ms Thornton had battled drug and alcohol problems, suffered from anxiety and depression and had ‘felt suicidal at times’. 

Mr Burgess read out a statement from Deborah Biggs, who worked at Berrow Coop. 

She said Pellow came into the store twice on November 22 to buy six bottles of cider, Scotch whisky and a number of food items.

He was said to have had alcohol on his breath but Ms Biggs said he ‘seemed fine’. 

Bridgwater Mercury:

The court then heard the 999 call Pellow made to South Western Ambulance Service on the day of Ms Thornton’s death.

Pellow gave the call operator his address and said: “My ex-partner has killed herself. She stabbed herself multiple times in the chest, throat or whatever. 

“Her name is Lisa Marie Thornton. I am still trying to close her wounds.” 
“She is gone. My name is Owen. My surname is Pellow. This is my property. We lost a child recently.”

Pellow sobbed as he told the operator: “I can’t believe it, its right in front of my eyes. I’m OK, I don’t need an ambulance. I’m counting the wounds to her chest and neck. We were watching Blade Runner.”

The ambulance call handler told Pellow to stay on the line as an ambulance was just a few minutes away. His voice was muffled.

Mr Burgess invited PC Ryan Dinham, who is stationed at Burnham Police Station, to give evidence.

RELATED: Owen Pellow tells court Lisa-Marie Thornton from Burnham-on-Sea 'done herself in'

PC Dinham said he arrived at Pellow’s flat at 7.40am with PC Ryan Willis and he was wearing a body-worn camera which he activated before he got to the scene. 

Police footage showed PC Dinham being greeted by Pellow who said Ms Thornton had ‘done herself in’.

The officer told a blood-covered Pellow that he was being arrested on suspicion of murder. The court heard Pellow said: “Is she still alive? Can we save her life, can we save her life?”

The court heard medics tried their best to save Ms Thornton but she was deceased at 8.17am. Pathologist Dr Deborah Cook was called to the stand and she told the court she was called to the scene to examine Ms Thornton’s body at 9.14am.

Dr Cook said: “It was obvious there were at least eight cuts in the right hand panel of the cardigan.

“Once the paramedics had moved I could see at least 30 incised wounds to the chest and neck.”

The court heard Ms Thornton sustained 39 wounds to her chest, neck, shoulder and breast. The pathologist said a stab wound to the lower right neck was an ‘injury of some significance’ as it cut the right jugular vein and the right carotid artery.

Dr Cook said: “These wounds are not self-inflicted. The wound to the back of the shoulder would have been almost impossible for her to have done herself.”

The court then heard from Stephen Harrington, forensic biologist, who said blood had soaked through the top of the right hand side of the mattress.

Mr Harrington said: “There were not blood stains on the head end of the bed, there is no evidence that she was sitting upright when she sustained her injuries. Lisa must have been lying horizontally on the mattress rather than being upright.”

The trial continues.