Great Yarmouth woman strangled by partner was 'amazing mum'

Tara Kershaw, a mother of two, had been in a "volatile" relationship with her killer Adam Barnard for about a year before police found her lifeless body at the property she lived at in Princes Road, Great Yarmouth, on January 20 this year.

Adam Barnard (left) and Tara Kershaw (inset) at Princes Road, Great Yarmouth (Image: Facebook/Norfolk Constabulary) Barnard was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 19 years on Monday (November 11) after being found guilty of Miss Kershaw's murder last week.

During the five-week trial, Miss Kershaw was described by her sister Tanita Salih as, "An amazing mum (who) would always put her children first."

Before Barnard was sentenced, Norwich Crown Court heard further tributes to Miss Kershaw from her sisters.

Norwich Crown Court (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest) Ms Salih said: "We shared dreams, laughter, and an unbreakable bond.

"I can hardly comprehend that I will never be able to share any future life moments with her.

"Her absence is a void that can never be filled.

“The moment I had to identify her body will haunt me forever. Seeing her like that is a memory that will never leave me, and the trauma is something I carry with me every single day.”

Another sister, Zoe Savva, said: "I think about Tara every day.

"As I wake it's yet another day without her, but by far the worst time is the evenings alone with my thoughts.

“This is when my mind won't switch off and instead it runs through everything that I know and replays her final moments over and over again. I am aware that no amount of time will ever break me free from the torment and torture of her death.

“I cling to memories of Tara; I hold them tight to keep them safe.”  

Before her tragic death Miss Kershaw had been "talking about marrying Adam, getting her life back on track and returning to work" but things took a far darker turn.

Adam Barnard (Image: Norfolk Police) Both of them drank, and Barnard took drugs. Against that backdrop Miss Kershaw became a target for regular attacks by Barnard. 

The former Great Yarmouth High School pupil, who also went to Cliff Park middle school in Gorleston, was "easily led" at school and often skipped classes. She also struggled with dyslexia. 

She went to GFS Platform, a local charity which provided support for girls and young women  before its closure in 2018, until she was 16.

After leaving school she worked as a waitress, before becoming a carer until the birth of her first baby. She suffered post-natal depression after the arrival of her second child, when her drinking spiralled.

Her Muslim husband was "very supportive" and tried to help with her drinking. But the relationship fell apart after she was found to be asleep when her children left the house, prompting a welfare check by police.

She split from her husband and the children were taken from her care.

After this Miss Kershaw continued to drink, became depressed, and got involved with the "wrong type of groups".

Before sentencing Barnard to life imprisonment Judge Alice Robinson recognised that Miss Kershaw was "lovely" and had lived a "happy life" prior to turning to alcohol.

Judge Robinson said Miss Kershaw "craved warmth, human affection and love" but instead became a victim of Barnard's controlling, manipulative and ultimately violent behaviour.

She had survived two previous strangulations by Barnard but ultimately succumbed to another attack against her in January this year.