A woman said to have been strangled to death by her partner told a friend he had "gone for her" in the weeks before she died, a court has heard.

The body of Tara Kershaw, 33, was discovered by police at her home in Princes Road, Great Yarmouth, after her partner Adam Barnard had gone to police in the town telling them "I think I killed my partner".

She died from compression of the neck although the post-mortem examination revealed evidence of "two episodes" of previous fractures to the larynx or voice box.

Police at Princes Road, Great YarmouthPolice at Princes Road, Great Yarmouth (Image: Newsquest) They are thought to have occurred between four and seven weeks prior to her death and another injury happened between five and 10 days before she died

Barnard, 41, has gone on trial at Norwich Crown Court accused of murdering Miss Kershaw, who he had been in a "volatile" relationship with, in the early hours of January 19 this year.

Norwich Crown CourtNorwich Crown Court (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest) The jury, comprising seven women and five men, were told Barnard had been arrested the day before Miss Kershaw's body was found after being accused of assaulting her.

Giving evidence on Wednesday, October 16, Kelly Flynn told the court that Miss Kershaw and Barnard "argued a lot". She had known them both, and described Miss Kershaw as being "very lovely" on the first time she met her.

The witness said Miss Kershaw and Barnard "seemed like a lovely couple" but they argued "regularly" and Miss Kershaw would often "come down crying or would be angry".

The witness said on one occasion, weeks before the incident and when Miss Kershaw had been drinking, she was "upset" and said he (Barnard) had "gone for her".

She said: "She (Miss Kershaw) just said he had gone for her".

The court also heard evidence from a mental health support worker who attended the Yarmouth address where Miss Kershaw and Barnard lived, to visit other individuals. 

She attended Princes Road on the morning of January 19 this year, after Miss Kershaw is said to have been killed, and said she saw Barnard sat on a footstool in front of her.

She said: "He appeared pale and as though he had a major problem".

The woman asked Barnard if he was okay and he said: "I've got a problem going on at the moment".

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

The trial continues.