Man jailed for 19 years for murdering partner

A "controlling and manipulating" man who murdered his partner has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 19 years.

Adam Barnard, 41, strangled Tara Kershaw, 33, on 19 January in a house where the pair lived in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.

At his trial, the jury was told how Barnard had been arrested on suspicion of assaulting Ms Kershaw the day before he killed the mother-of-two.

Norfolk Police said it had referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which was conducting an investigation.

At a sentencing hearing at Norwich Crown Court earlier, Ms Kershaw’s family sat in the public gallery with a large framed photo of her.

Her sister, Tanita Salish, read an impact statement to the court where she claimed Ms Kershaw had been "let down by many people".

"We are told from a young age to trust the people in charge," she said.

"She was labelled a drinker and not listened to. We all know this could have been avoided."

Ms Salish said Ms Kershaw had used alcohol as a "coping mechanism".

Before he was sentenced, the court heard Barnard was a sex offender who was convicted of sexually assaulting a girl under the age of 13 in 2016.

His defence said in the time he had spent in prison so far, Barnard had shown remorse for what he had done.

Sentencing him to a minimum term of 19 years, judge Alice Robinson said Barnard had killed Tara in a violent rage.

She said: "You manipulated the professionals you spoke with into thinking you were the victim not her."

Police said they had previous contact with the couple, including a call made by Ms Kershaw at about 18:00 GMT on 18 January.

She phoned officers in the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) and told them Barnard had hit her on the lip.

Barnard was arrested on suspicion of common assault, taken in for questioning and released at 22:50, with no further action taken.

He claimed their engagement had been called off that day and he had "asked for the ring back".

The following day - the day of the murder - police safeguarding staff from MASH and an independent domestic violence adviser called her mobile three times to check on her welfare, with the calls unanswered, police said.

Barnard then approached an officer outside Great Yarmouth police station, shortly before 09:00 the next day, 20 January, and said: “I think I’ve killed my partner.”

He claimed he did not know how long he had pinned down Ms Kershaw and had attempted to resuscitate her, then covered her with a blanket and passed out on the bed.

Barnard told officers he woke up the next morning, panicked and left the property.

He claimed Ms Kershaw had assaulted him with a lamp while he slept and that he had been restraining her when she died.

A post-mortem examination found Ms Kershaw's death was consistent with compression to the neck and there was evidence of injuries to the bones of her neck that had taken place four to seven weeks, five to 10 days and less than six hours before she had died.

Det Insp Alix Wright from Norfolk Police, said while she could not comment on the ongoing IOPC investigation, "lessons will be identified and lessons will be learnt."

"Barnard preyed on Tara's vulnerabilities. He blamed her for his actions and his violence towards her," she said.

"Nobody should feel unsafe in their own home, and I’d urge any victim of domestic abuse to report their suffering and come forward so they can be helped and supported.

"Our thoughts today remain with Tara's family."

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