A 16-year-old boy watched in horror as his father

A 16-year-old boy watched in horror as his father was
stabbed to death by a jealous husband, a court was told today.

Distraught Nigel Thorn did not realise what had happened
until he saw the bloodied knife in the clasp of Victor Chambers,
it was said.

Forty-four-year-old Kenneth Thorn died from three fatal
stab wounds, Southwark Crown Court was told.

According to the pathologist the knife was plunged up to
its hilt into his heart.

Mr Thorn was also stabbed in the liver.

The jury were told that Mr Thorn was the former lover of
Chambers’ common-law-wife, Pamela Halsey, 43, and that the couple
had remained ‘good friends.

‘
Prosecutor Mr Michael Austin-Smith told the jury that as
a result of the past relationship Chambers, 50, and Mr Thorn
had come to blows, although more recently the situation had
been smoothed over.

But on July 20, 1992 trouble erupted after Ms Halsey
complained to Mr Thorn that she had been beaten by Chambers.

Furious at seeing blood pouring from his old love’s head,
Mr Thorn rushed home and telephoned Chambers.

He warned him he was coming over to sort things out, the
jury was told.

Minutes later, Mr Thorn, accompanied by his son confronted
Chambers at his address in Hadrain Close on the Roundshaw Estate,
Wallington.

Mr Thorn shouted through the letter box demanding to be
let in, said counsel.

Moments later Chambers appeared at the door.

‘Thorn screamed at him to stop beating up Pam then they
both exchanged punches.

‘During the final part of the incident, the defendant put
his arm over Mr Thorn’s shoulder.

‘Mr Thorn’s son saw Chambers use a pumping action with his
hand into the chest of his father,’ alleged Mr Austin-Smith.

He then saw his father slump to the ground, the court was
told.

The jury heard that Chambers called an ambulance and
later gave himself up to the police.

The jury were told that Chambers admitted, when interviewed,
that he had stabbed Mr Thorn, but claimed he had acted in self-defence.

He told the police Mr Thorn had smashed his way into his
home and at hearing this he had grabbed a knife to defend himself.

Giving evidence Ms Halsey, described how her common-law-husband
exploded in a fit of rage after discovering she had been secretly
visiting a former lover.

Mr Thorn was knifed to death in front of his horrified son
by jealous Victor Chambers.

Ms Halsey a barmaid told the court that she had remained
good friends with Mr Thorn, who lived nearby, after having a
brief fling with him some three years earlier.

She said she had continued to visit him at his home behind
the back of Chambers, her common-law-husband.

But, the court heard, her visits came to light when
jealous Chambers confronted her about her disappearances.

The court was told that on the day of the stabbing, she had
twice met with the deceased whilst her husband had been out.

She told the jury Chambers flew off the handle when she
returned from a meeting with Mr Thorn.

She said: ‘He wanted to know where I had been.

‘We had a bit of an argument because I had seen Ken.

‘
‘He was cross I had seen another man.

‘
She said as tempers flared, Chambers picked up a dog guard
and threw it in the air.

‘He didn’t throw it at me, but I just got caught in the way.

 ‘It hit me on the head.

‘I said I was going to the hospital but Vic refused to come.

‘
She said that after the fight she went to see Mr Thorn at a
club on the housing estate where she lived.

‘I saw Ken, and I told him about the row.

‘He was annoyed, he had quite a bit to drink.

‘
‘He didn’t approve of anyone hitting a woman.

‘
She said that as she was giving him a lift to home, he told
her he was going to telephone Chambers.

‘He said he was going to sort him out.

‘
‘I told him not to be so silly and told him to go to bed.

‘
The court was told Ms Halsey went to hospital with a friend.

The first she knew about the killing was later that night.

Chambers of Hadrian Close, Roundshaw Estate denies murder.

The trial continues.

ends