Norfolk murder accused had been arrested 24 hours earlier

Adam Barnard, 41, had been in a "volatile" relationship with Tara Kershaw, 33, for about a year prior to her body being found at a property in Princes Road, Great Yarmouth, just after 9am on January 20 this year.

Tara Kershaw (Image: Norfolk Constabulary) Barnard has gone on trial accused of murdering Miss Kershaw, who died as a result of compression of the neck.

Opening the prosecution case on Thursday, Stephen Spence said Barnard, who lived next door to Miss Kershaw, was arrested by police on January 18 after the victim alleged he had been violent towards her.

Norwich Crown Court heard Barnard was taken into custody and interviewed by police, telling officers the cut to her lip had been caused by her earlier in the day.

Norwich Crown Court (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest) Mr Spence said Barnard was released shortly before 11pm on January 18 and returned home.

It followed an earlier allegation by Miss Kershaw on January 6 this year, when she called police complaining that Barnard had strangled her.

Mr Spence said following his arrest on January 18, Barnard stopped off to buy cider and vodka before he killed Miss Kershaw in the early hours of January 19.

Police at Princes Road, Yarmouth (Image: Newsquest) He said a number of calls to Miss Kershaw during the day on January 19 went unanswered.

Mr Spence said she also failed to attend a benefits meeting, arranged by her brother, on January 19.

On January 20, shortly before 9am - 24 hours after the attack on Miss Kershaw - Barnard attended Yarmouth Police Station and told officers "I think I've killed my partner".

Great Yarmouth Police Station (Image: Newsquest) Mr Spence said Barnard told police "I needed to speak to you guys" adding: "I know I'm in a whole lot of trouble."

Barnard was arrested and officers went to Miss Kershaw's accommodation where they found her on the floor at the foot of the bed with an animal print blanket over her.

As well as the fresh injuries, the subsequent post-mortem examination also found evidence of two episodes of previous fractures to part of the larynx, or voice box.

Those injuries are thought to have occurred between four and seven weeks prior to her death, with another injury between five and 10 days before she died.

Barnard made no comment during his interview with police, although he provided a prepared statement.

Adam Barnard (Image: Facebook) In it he said after getting back to his accommodation he went to drink the alcohol he had bought in the living room.

He said he then went to get into bed with Miss Kershaw, who was asleep, but was later attacked by her and hit in the face with a lamp.

In the statement he said in an attempt to defend himself he said he "pinned down" Miss Kershaw to "stop her continuing to attack me".

Although he did not know how long he held her down for he said "once I felt her go limp I immediately stopped".

He said he tried mouth-to-mouth resuscitation as well as chest compressions but panicked and "didn't know what to do".

He said he had "just wanted to stop her continuing to attack me".

But Mr Spence told jurors it had been an "aggressive and violent attack on her".

He said while some injuries to her chest suggest Barnard may well have attempted CPR, the prosecutor said he made "no real attempt to get help for her".

The prosecutor said Barnard had not contacted the emergency services or summoned help as he "wanted time to think about what he was going to say and do" and took "plenty of time" before going to police.

Mr Spence said it was an "attack on a vulnerable and intoxicated woman in which for some reason he lost his temper with her and he went too far this time.

"He went too far intending to punish her, intending to hurt her and intending to hurt her seriously if not to kill her," he added.

Barnard, of Princes Road, Yarmouth, has denied murder and manslaughter.

The trial continues.