The jurors came out to analyze the verdicts in the case of a man accused of killing his partner.

Adam Barnard denies murder and manslaughter of mother-of-two Tara Kershaw, 33, at their home in Princes Road in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, on January 19, 2024.

The 41-year-old previously told Norwich Crown Court he “caught her with his arms across his chest” and the next thing he knew, “his hands were around her neck”.

He claimed he was trying to defend himself after he claimed he woke up in bed to find her beating him and hitting him over the head with a lamp.

Jurors were told Mr Barnard got into the bed after going out with a friend to get money to buy hard cider and cocaine.

The court was told that he “came to” after a seizure and found his arm around her neck when he slept on drink and drugs.

An autopsy found the mother-of-two’s death was consistent with compression to the neck and there was evidence of other neck injuries from the previous weeks.

The jury heard that Mr Barnard met Ms Kershaw in a Karaoke bar in June 2023 and said the pair became engaged a few months later.

He said they both had problems with alcohol and claimed Ms Kershaw’s “ugly side” came out when she drank.

The court heard Mr Barnard was arrested the day before Ms Kershaw’s death because he claimed he had been violent towards her, resulting in a split lip.

He said the engagement was called off that day and he “asked for the ring back” and denied any violence towards Miss Kershaw.

Mr Barnard turned himself into police the day after Ms Kershaw died at home on January 19.

The jury is still out on their verdict.

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