Murder trial reveals woman suffered serious internal injuries before death

A boyfriend killed his partner by using a wooden broom handle to inflict internal injuries at their home, a murder trial heard on Tuesday May 16.

Carl Silcox, 45, phoned police after saying he had woken up to find girlfriend Adell Cowan, 43, dead in bed.

Police arrived at their flat to find Adell had suffered visible injuries to her face and head – and blood-stained clothing and bedsheets were at the scene.

Medical examinations later found Adell had suffered serious internal injuries to her rectum, spleen and abdominals as a result of injury with a wooden broom handle.

Prosecutor Gordon Cole KC said Silcox dialled 999 shortly after midnight on October 18, 2020 to say Adell was dead at the property in Mornington Meadows, Caerphilly.

He said: “In the course of that call he said: ‘I woke up and my missus is dead. I’m Carl Silcox I’ve just come to the phone box now. I lost my mobile phone’.

“He was asked if he could go and try CPR to which he replied: ‘She’s dead mate, she’s cold as ice, I don’t know if she choked on her spit or whatever.'”

Cardiff Crown Court heard that when police and emergency services arrived they discovered Adell had been dead for several hours.

Mr Cole said a Home Office pathologist carried out a post mortem examination and was unable to identify “any natural explanation for Adell Cowan’s death.”

Mr Cole said: “He did note that she had sustained a catalogue of injuries.

“There was bruising and swelling to her face, to her head, to her neck. There were 13 rib fractures, five posterior rib fractures, fractures to her back.”

He added: “Despite the fact Adell Cowan was a lady with difficulties, she was vulnerable because of her alcohol dependencies. It’s impossible to ignore the trauma having caused a significant role in the death of Adell.

“The circumstances point to this defendant having inflicted unlawful violence from which there was a substantial cause of the death of Adell Cowan from the violence, the facial injuries, the ribs, and the use of the broom handle.”

Following her death, Adell, was described by her family as “much-loved” and “bubbly” and described her as a “much-loved sister, auntie, niece and friend to many”.

They said: “She was bubbly, sociable and well-known in the community.

“She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.”

Silcox, of Commercial Road, Aberbargoed, denies the murder and manslaughter of Adell.

The trial, before the Recorder of Cardiff Tracey Lloyd-Clarke, continues.