Monster GUILTY of murdering ex and dumping her body in lay-by before hatching grim plot to pretend she was still alive
A KILLER who hatched a gruesome plot to pretend his ex was still alive as she lay dead in woodland is facing life in jail for murder.
Darren Hall, 36, used Sarah Henshaw's phone to text her friends and neighbours to say she had voluntarily left her home.
In reality, the mum-of-two was lying dead 20 miles away in a lay-by on the A617 near Chesterfield in Derbyshire.
Hall has now been convicted of murdering 31-year-old Sarah at her home in Ilkeston.
Derby Crown Court heard how the couple met in 2011 before breaking up six years later.
Although they reunited in 2022, the relationship was strained and Hall was violent towards Sarah.
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On June 20 this year, Hall said he had rowed with Sarah over allegations he had cheated.
During his evidence, the killer added: "As I got to the top of the stairs, she goes to push me downstairs.
"I don't think she was doing it to push me down the stairs, she has got her hand on my back saying, 'Go on, get out'.
"I put my right hand out to brace myself and she pushed a bit harder, I swung my left arm back out at her and as I turned around she was already falling down the stairs.
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"I just saw her fall head first. It was so quick, it was like I blinked and then she was at the bottom, it was so quick.
"She was not moving, she was just in a pile at the bottom of the stairs."
Hall claimed he then "just panicked" after realising Sarah was dead and drove her body 20 miles away to the lay-by.
The carpet fitter stopped for nine minutes before dumping Sarah uncovered near some woodland.
He then messaged one of the mum's pals before chucking her phone out the window of his work van as he drove back to Sarah's home.
Once there, Hall messaged the device to "try and make out as if she had just left".
He also disposed of her dressing gown and her slippers in a skip while "covering his tracks" through "calculated and controlled" actions.
Sarah was discovered six days later but a cause of death could not be found - although she had bruising on her neck.
How you can get help
Women's Aid has this advice for victims and their families:
- Always keep your phone nearby.
- Get in touch with charities for help, including the Women’s Aid live chat helpline and services such as SupportLine.
- If you are in danger, call 999.
- Familiarise yourself with the Silent Solution, reporting abuse without speaking down the phone, instead dialing “55”.
- Always keep some money on you, including change for a pay phone or bus fare.
- If you suspect your partner is about to attack you, try to go to a lower-risk area of the house – for example, where there is a way out and access to a telephone.
- Avoid the kitchen and garage, where there are likely to be knives or other weapons. Avoid rooms where you might become trapped, such as the bathroom, or where you might be shut into a cupboard or other small space.
If you are a victim of domestic abuse, SupportLine is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6pm to 8pm on 01708 765200. The charity’s email support service is open weekdays and weekends during the crisis – [email protected].
Women’s Aid provides a - available weekdays from 8am-6pm and weekends 10am-6pm.
You can also call the freephone 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.
Following her tragic death, Sarah's mum Lorraine paid tribute said she was "a wonderful daughter and sister".
She added: "She was also a fantastic mum to her two girls, who she loved so much.
“Sarah would always put others first and was always incredibly kind.
“As a family we are all devastated by her death.
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"We miss her so much and will love her forever.”
Hall was remanded into custody ahead of sentencing on Tuesday.
