Watchdog looks at police conduct in murder case

Tara Kershaw reported violence by her partner Adam Barnard to police on several occasions before he murdered her

Six Norfolk Police staff are being investigated by a watchdog following the murder of a woman.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said it was looking at the contact officers had with Tara Kershaw prior to her death.

Adam Barnard, 41, was jailed for at least 19 years for strangling his 33-year-old partner in their house in Great Yarmouth in January.

"The investigation is looking at multiple reports made to police between November 2023 and January 2024," the IOPC said.

Adam Barnard was sentenced to life imprisonment at Norwich Crown Court

In a statement the IOPC said: “We can confirm that, as part of our ongoing investigation, a total of six officers or staff members have been served with conduct notices.

"A member of police staff and former police officer are being investigated for potential gross misconduct, and a further four officers are being investigated for potential misconduct.

"This does not mean that disciplinary proceedings will necessarily follow - at the end of our investigation we will decide whether any officers should face disciplinary proceedings."

Barnard, whose trial was told was violent and a convicted sex offender, was told he must serve a minimum of 19 years before being considered for parole as part of his life sentence.

During the trial, 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.

Another resident of the property on Princes Road described it as a "madhouse" where drink and drugs were often consumed

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 going 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.”

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 on three different occasions:

• four to seven weeks before she died

• five to 10 days before she died

• less than six hours before she died

Norfolk Police had already referred itself to the IOPC.

In a statement it said: "As the IOPC is independently investigating this incident we cannot comment on specific details. The constabulary continues to co-operate with the IOPC."