THE ex-partner of a Burnham-on-Sea woman who was allegedly stabbed to death said he 'had dreams about stabbing her in the back', 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, appeared at Bristol Crown Court today (May 21) charged with murder, a charge he denies.

Pellow was wearing a green dress, pearls and had bobbed black hair as he sat in the dock.

In an opening statement, 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'.

On the day of the alleged murder, the prosecution said Pellow called Avon and Somerset Police at around 7.30am and said Ms Thornton was dead and that she killed herself.

The court heard police officers were sent to his home and were greeted by Pellow, who had blood on his face, and said: "Lisa has done herself in".

Pellow said he had put Lisa on the bed and described her as 'my love'.

A police officer found Ms Thornton on a mattress in an 'extremely cluttered' room wearing a cardigan and knickers and seized a knife that was next to her on the bed.

Ambulances arrived and medics attempted to resuscitate Ms Thornton but she was pronounced dead at 8.14am.

Pellow was arrested and cautioned.

Pathologist Deborah Cook carried out a post-mortem examination on Ms Thornton's body on the same day and told the court she found 39 separate knife wounds to her body.

The court heard Ms Thornton suffered 'severe' knife wounds to her right breast, chest and neck, one wound to the inner knee of the left leg and one knife wound to her right shoulder.

Dr Cook concluded the victim's injuries could not have been self-inflicted, the court heard.

The prosecution said Pellow was interviewed twice by police and told them he had been watching films with Lisa on the day of the alleged murder.

Pellow claimed he went downstairs to use the toilet and tried to roll a cigarette.

He then said he saw Lisa stabbing herself in her chest, sat slightly upright.

He told police he 'scrambled across the room' to her and she stabbed herself again so he took the knife and threw it from her reach.

The prosecution said Pellow stated that Lisa was 'really angry' about a number of matters including her son being taken into care.

Mr Burgess said before she died that Pellow told her he loved her and she said the same and her breathing then became shallow, she became cold and when he looked into her eyes “he knew she was gone”.

Forensic scientist Stephen Harrington told the court that Lisa sustained cuts when she was horizontal on the mattress, due to blood dispersal.

Mr Burgess said a mental health nurse saw Pellow two weeks after the incident.

Mr Burgess' statement said the defendant stated that he had seen the post mortem report and said 'he had had dreams of stabbing Lisa in the back'. The court also heard he said he 'must have carried out her wishes' as it alleged Ms Thornton said she wanted them to 'die together'.

He said he had sustained an injury to his wrist during the incident but no injuries were apparent.

Pellow said he may have stabbed Lisa after she killed herself but he said he couldn’t remember doing so.

When concluding the prosecution's opening statement, Mr Burgess, said it was the prosecution’s responsibility to prove Lisa did not take her own life and that Pellow murdered her.

The prosecution's evidence and witnesses will come before the court tomorrow.