DARREN HALL – DERBYSHIRE

2023 – Killer Jailed for Life After Strangling Ex-Girlfriend and Dumping Her Body Near M1

A man who murdered his former partner during an argument before dumping her body in woodland near a motorway lay-by has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 17 years.

Darren Hall, 36, killed 31-year-old Sarah Henshaw at her home in Norman Street, Ilkeston, Derbyshire. Her body was discovered six days after she was reported missing on June 20, dumped in woodland near a lay-by on the westbound A617 close to Chesterfield.

Derby Crown Court heard Hall drove her body around 20 miles before abandoning it. A post-mortem examination revealed bruising around Ms Henshaw’s neck, described as being about the width of a dressing gown cord.

Following a two-week trial, Hall, of Rodney Way, Ilkeston, was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment.

“Series of lies” against backdrop of abuse

Prosecutors told the court Hall spun a “series of lies” in an attempt to cover up the killing, against what was described as a background of domestic abuse.

Mr Justice Goss said the evidence showed there had been earlier violence in the relationship. He told Hall he was satisfied there were previous occasions where he had assaulted and bruised Ms Henshaw.

Addressing the defendant, the judge said: “Whatever arose that caused you to be violent in the bedroom, you attacked her and… you almost certainly strangled her.”

Although the exact medical cause of death could not be definitively established, the court concluded she died at Hall’s hands.

Hall had claimed Ms Henshaw fell down the stairs, but admitted moving her body and disposing of her belongings because he had “just panicked”. Phone data showed he stopped at the lay-by for nine minutes before leaving her body there.

After her death, Hall used Ms Henshaw’s mobile phone to send messages to friends in an attempt to make it appear she was still alive. He later threw the phone away and disposed of her dressing gown and slippers at a recycling centre and in a skip, trying to stage a disappearance. He repeated the same false account to police before his arrest on June 23.

Family’s heartbreak

Throughout the trial, Ms Henshaw’s family filled the public gallery. She was described as “bubbly and mischievous” with an infectious laugh.

Her sister said her death meant “the biggest piece of us is missing”, while her mother, Lorraine Henshaw, called Hall a “monster” who disposed of her daughter “like a piece of rubbish”.

“All Sarah ever wanted was stability and to settle down with a partner who loved her,” her mother said. “To me, he is a monster who committed the most evil crime a person can do.”

The court heard Hall and Ms Henshaw had met in 2011 and had a volatile relationship, though they had separated by the time of her death. Despite being asked to return his key, Hall still had access to her home and let himself in on the day of the killing, refusing to leave when she returned.

Sentencing Hall, Mr Justice Goss said no punishment could undo the harm caused, telling him: “The harm you have done and the suffering you have caused can never be undone by any sentence of this court.”