THOUSAND OAKS : Testimony Ends in Murder Trial

Jurors heard the final testimony Monday in the 6-week-old murder trial of Mark Scott Thornton, the Thousand Oaks man accused of slaying Westlake nurse Kellie O’Sullivan last year.

The only new witness--Ray Chakmajian, the owner of a dry-cleaning company--testified that he gave Thornton a job last year, but said the defendant quit after working only a day and a half.

Defense witnesses had told the jury that Thornton had been homeless and unable to find employment before the nurse’s death. But Chakmajian, testifying as a prosecution rebuttal witness, said he hired Thornton after the defendant was referred to him by Conejo Valley Youth Employment Services.

On his second day at work, Thornton asked to leave early and never returned, Chakmajian said.

After the prosecution rested, Superior Court Judge Charles R. McGrath ordered closing arguments to begin Wednesday. The arguments will last the remainder of the week. The jury should get the case for deliberations next Monday, lawyers said.

Thornton is accused of fatally shooting the 33-year-old nurse during a Sept. 14, 1993, carjacking. He is also charged with a string of other crimes, including kidnaping his former girlfriend and shooting at her mother.

If convicted of murder during the course of kidnaping or robbery, he could be sentenced to die in the gas chamber.

Thornton was arrested five days after the nurse was killed in the Santa Monica Mountains. He was in possession of her truck and the weapon used to kill the woman, prosecutors said.

The defense did not admit or deny the slaying during the trial. Thornton did not take the stand but has told police and relatives that he did not kill the nurse.