In a disturbing turn of events, Darren Hall, a 36-year-old carpet fitter, has been accused of murdering his girlfriend, Sarah Henshaw, and dumping her body near a lay-by. The case, which is currently being heard at Derby Crown Court, has revealed shocking details about the events leading to Ms Henshaw’s untimely death.
Hall, while giving evidence, claimed that on June 20, Ms Henshaw, 31, accidentally fell down the stairs during an argument at her home in Ilkeston, Derbyshire. In a state of panic, Hall admitted to moving her body 20 miles away and attempting to cover up the incident.
The court heard that the couple, who had met in 2011 and rekindled their relationship in 2022, got into an altercation that night. Hall denied allegations of strangling Ms Henshaw during the argument, a claim put forward by the prosecution.
Visibly emotional, Hall recounted the incident, describing how Ms Henshaw fell as she pushed him down the stairs. “She was in a pile at the bottom of the stairs… not moving,” he said. He expressed regret for not calling for help, fearing accusations of murder.
According to Hall, he randomly chose the lay-by on the A617 near Chesterfield to leave her body, which he did without attempting to hide it. He further confessed to using Ms Henshaw’s phone to send texts to her friend, creating an illusion that she was still alive, and later disposed of her phone and clothing.
The Crown’s case suggests that Hall murdered Ms Henshaw and then ‘callously dumped’ her body. However, Hall maintained that her death was accidental and a result of the fall.
The discovery of Ms Henshaw’s body followed Hall’s arrest on June 23, after which police searches led to the grim find. The case, presided over by Mr Justice Goss, is ongoing, with the prosecutor, Michelle Heeley KC, challenging Hall’s version of events.
