A man has been accused of making up claims he killed his partner after he blacked out during an epileptic seizure while restraining her.
Adam Barnard, 41, denies the murder of Tara Kershaw, 33, who died as a result of compression of the neck in Great Yarmouth.
A trial at Norwich Crown Court has heard he had been in a "volatile" relationship prior to her body being found at a property in Princes Road in January 2024.
The court heard how the day before Tara had died she had called the police to report Barnard had been violent towards her.
READ MORE: Jury told murder accused had 'gone for' victim weeks before
Barnard told the court that he had been taking class A drugs and drinking on the night Ms Kershaw died.
Giving evidence he said he had tried to stop her from attacking him with a lamp after he returned home in a deliberate attempt to trigger his epilepsy.
“I pinned her down with my arm on her chest and restrained her. The next thing I remember is coming around with my arm across her neck,” he said.
She had been limp and he was “scared and panicking” after failing to find a pulse, he added.
The jury was told he had not called 999 for help.
READ MORE: Murder victim feared partner was going to kill her
In a prepared statement he told police: “I was in shock and pain and I instinctively held her down by the neck. Once I felt her body go limp I immediately stopped.”
Stephen Spence, prosecuting, accused him of making up claims of passing out as the result of a seizure to fit with medical evidence after failing to mention it to police at the time.
“You killed her because you lost it with her and you wanted to really have a go at her this time,” he said.
“The reason you didn’t call the ambulance service is because you knew full well you were in trouble.”
READ MORE: Norfolk murder accused had been arrested 24 hours earlier
Mr Spence said he had waited 24 hours to hand himself into police and had instead been “out on a bender” paid for by using Tara’s bank card.
The trial has heard during previous violent incidents Tara had suffered broken bones in her neck.
Mr Spence asked whether he had ever been violent to Tara.
He replied: “No, I’ve restrained her.”
The trial continues.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article