Man on trial for girlfriend’s murder claims he was attempting to save her

The trial of a man charged with his girlfriend’s murder has heard that he was, in fact, attempting to preserve her life. Adam Barnard, 41, previously residing at Princes Road, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, surrendered to authorities on January 20, the day following the death of 33-year-old Tara Kershaw at her residence on January 19. Norwich Crown Court was informed that the couple had a turbulent relationship. Mr. Barnard has pleaded not guilty to both murder and manslaughter. On Friday, Judge Alice Robinson reiterated to the jurors the details of his defense statement. The jury was informed that Mr. Barnard had returned to bed after going out with a friend to acquire funds for purchasing strong cider and crack cocaine. Ms. Kershaw was reportedly already asleep, but he asserted that he awoke a short time later to her assaulting him and striking his head with a lamp. Judge Robinson quoted Mr. Barnard directly: “Tara was very angry; she swung the lamp at my head.” He continued, as quoted by the judge: “She was trying to punch and kick me. “Tara was on her knees on the bed, holding the lamp, shouting and screaming. I pinned her down with my arm across her chest.” Mr. Barnard’s statement further included: “I don’t remember anything after that. I’m hanging over the bed. She was lying on the bed with her head in the pillows. I moved my arm and noticed her going limp.” He concluded this part of his account by stating: “I didn’t intend to kill her or cause her any serious harm, I just wanted to stop the attack.” He recounted being unable to locate a pulse and attempting chest compressions, until he subsequently either fell asleep or lost consciousness. When questioned about his failure to summon an ambulance, Judge Robinson cited his response: “I had just taken a life. The police were going to find out. I didn’t want to go to prison.” He added: “Lots of thoughts were going through my head.” And concluded: “Lots of them didn’t make sense. I was trying to save her life.” The couple resided in a house of multiple occupancy, which one inhabitant characterized as a “mad house” where alcohol and drugs were consumed, and a continuous flow of individuals entered. The subsequent morning, a nurse who arrived to administer care to another resident observed Mr. Barnard appearing pale and withdrawn. Judge Robinson quoted the nurse’s statement: “He looked really ill, and like he was worried about something, and I thought perhaps someone in his family had died.” When asked about his well-being, the nurse reported his reply: “No I’ve got bad stuff going on at the moment.” Mr. Barnard surrendered himself at Great Yarmouth Police Station at 09:00 GMT on January 20. Judge Robinson postponed the trial until Monday, at which point she is scheduled to finalize the summing up and dispatch the jury to deliberate on its verdicts.