Jury discharged in Alnwick Garden love triangle stabbing trial

A jury in the trial of a man accused of stabbing his lover's partner has been discharged.

Brett Fenwick is alleged to have knifed Gareth Mallaburn in the neck before trying to kill Louise Pearce, who he had been having an affair with.

Fenwick and his brother, Blaine, deny wounding with intent on Mr Mallaburn and knife charges and had been standing trial at Newcastle Crown Court

However, on Thursday, the jury at was discharged and the pair will face a retrial in November.

Mr Mallaburn found out the mother of his children had been having an affair with his friend and fellow Alnwick Garden kitchen porter, Brett Fenwick, leading to tension between the two men, a court heard.

Just after Christmas last year, it is alleged Fenwick and his brother, Blaine, went to the home of Miss Pearce and Mr Mallaburn, in Alnwick, while drunk.

It is claimed they barged into the house and smashed through a bedroom door to get to Mr Mallaburn, who Brett Fenwick allegedly ended up stabbing in the neck.

Miss Pearce, a cleaner at Alnwick Garden, was then knifed by Brett Fenwick, the court heard.

Brett Fenwick, 36, of Lower Barresdale, Alnwick, pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of Louise Pearce and having a bladed article. He denies wounding with intent on Mr Mallaburn and having a bladed article on the way to Howling Lane.

Blaine Fenwick, 24, also of Lower Barresdale, denies wounding with intent on Mr Mallaburn and two counts of having a bladed article, one of them on the way to the scene.