BODY IN THE WOODS
Who was Natalie Hemming and what happened to her?
Killer’s chilling comment revealed as he was jailed
IN 2016, mum-of-three Natalie Hemming was beaten to death inside her Milton Keynes Home.
Here we take a look into the murder of Natalie, which features in the Channel 4 documentary series Catching a Killer: The Search for Natalie Hemming.
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What happened to Natalie Hemming?
Natalie Hemming, 31, was beaten to death by Paul Hemming after she decided to leave him, following a decade of abuse.
Paul Hemming and Natalie had been in a relationship since 2007.
When they first met, Natalie already had a young daughter from a previous short-lived marriage.
She was a bubbly person. She liked clothes and shopping and she would take me. She was friendly. She was a really nice person.''
Natalie's daughter Kirstie
In the years that followed they had a son and a daughter and although they weren’t married, she took his surname.
Following the brutal attack, Hemming then wrapped the mum-of-three's body in a blanket and buried her in a wooded area which was located around 30 miles from their home in Milton Keynes.
Once there, he dragged her body through thick undergrowth and lay her face down beneath the trees.
Tragically, Natalie’s son, then six, awoke and witnessed the brutal murder through a gap in the door.
When all the children had woken up, Hemming then took them to Whipsnade Zoo for a day out and claimed that their mum had left when they were sleeping.
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Natalie’s daughter Kirstie was 12 years old when she awoke to find her mum had vanished in the middle of the night.
Speaking in the BBC Two documentary Behind Closed Doors in 2019, she said: “Growing up in an abusive home is an awful place. There were times when I got home from school and I had forgotten to do a piece of homework and I was told to go to bed.
Catching a Killer: CCTV shows Natalie Hemming kissing boyfriend Simon
“My mum would just stay quiet. She wouldn’t put up an argument, but she would bring me food later.
"I saw him hit my mum, but I was too scared to intervene, so I kept it to myself.”
When describing her mum, said: “She was a bubbly person. She liked clothes and shopping and she would take me. She was friendly. She was a really nice person.
"We are really alike. We looked alike as well. She taught me makeup.”
Natalie’s daughter also admitted that she still struggled with her emotions towards her mum’s killer.
She added: “I think I feel a bit numb towards him, because most of my childhood I trusted him, and the next thing I know he’s killed my mum and I don’t really understand why he would do that.”
Natalie was missing for three weeks before her naked body was found in a woodland ditch, 30 miles from their home.
When was Natalie Hemming murdered?
Natalie Hemming was murdered on May 1, 2016.
Prior to the discovery of her body 21 days later, Hemming spun a web of lies in a bid to cover up his horrific crime.
Natalie was killed "in a fit of rage and jealousy" when Hemming discovered she had met someone new and was planning to leave him and take the children.
He then attempted to use this information to throw police officers off the scent, blaming Natalie’s lover for her disappearance.
Hemming also sent text messages to Natalie's phone expressing his worry after she had vanished.
However, it was when quizzed by investigating officers that Hemming was presented with a smoking gun.
He had claimed that he hadn't left the house on the night of Natalie's murder, however, police discovered ANPR footage of his car being driven.
Who is Paul Hemming?
In November 2016, Paul Hemming, who had previously worked as a carpet salesman, was jailed for life with a minimum of 20 years after being convicted of murder.
He admitted manslaughter at his trial but denied murder.
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Following the conviction, Hemming chillingly looked over at Natalie's mum and sister as he was placed behind bars and mouthed: "I enjoyed every minute.”
Sentencing, Judge Richard Foster said: "Natalie Hemming knew you were overbearing, controlling, jealous and on occasions violent. You said you would mend your ways but you did not.
"The manner in which you have conducted yourself since the murder indicates a complete lack of remorse."
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