Jealous DJ killed fiancée after she shouted another man's name during sex

Geoff Hemming, 52, stabbed Denise Williamson, 44, 10 times then slashed himself to make it look like somebody had attacked them both

Jailed: Geoff Hemming

A radio DJ murdered his fiancée after becoming convinced she was having an affair when she shouted another man’s name during sex, a court heard today.

Geoff Hemming, 52, stabbed Denise Williamson, 44, 10 times then slashed himself in an effort to make it look like somebody had attacked them both.

They were found covered in blood by Miss Williamson’s son Ryan, 16, at their home in Hucknall, Notts.

Neighbours who tried to save Denise’s life described the crime scene at the property as “abattoir-like”.

Michael Auty QC, prosecuting, said: “He said Denise had called him ‘Paul’. 

“He had put two and two together and concluded she was having a relationship with someone called Paul. She had been to school with a ‘Paul’.”

Mr Auty said from then on Hemming became “consumed with the notion” that his partner of 10 years was seeing another man.

He said that their relationship was already under strain because Hemming was £45,000 in debt, and his radio work had started to dry up.

Hemming used to host the breakfast show on Sheffield’s Magic AM station.

The veteran DJ, who wept throughout the hearing, had tried to supplement his income by working as a driving instructor, but it was proving unsuccessful.

Denise told pals Hemming was “jealous and controlling” and got gratification from the idea of watching her have sex with other men.

She confessed to one friend that she had given in his demands and slept with someone else while Hemming was in the room.

Despite telling her fiance she did not enjoy it, Denise told the same friend she felt “pressured” to go swinging with him again.

Mr Auty said: “The overall impression she gave to friends was that she wanted stability in her life, for herself and Ryan as well.”

In the run-up to the killing, Hemming began “monitoring” his fiancee’s movements - causing her to shut down her email in response.

Just 48 hours hours before the murder he carried out internet searches which included “I caught my wife having sex”.

Mr Auty said the attack may have been sparked by a belief of Hemming’s that Denise had saved a lover’s details in her phone under a false name.

He stabbed her moments after she sent a text message to a female friend - with Hemming apparently believing she was contacting another man.

Denise’s son found the couple “drenched” in blood lying on the kitchen floor of their £200,000 home in Hucknall, Notts.

Paramedics who attended the horrific scene said Hemming had a “superficial” cut to his wrist and was pretending to be unconscious.

As he was being led to an ambulance, he asked them how Denise was, before adding: “Who has done this?”

Hemming initially claimed he was suffering from amnesia before eventually admitting to detectives that he had killed his fiancee.

Shaun Smith QC, defending, said: “This took place against the background of his debt, and work finishing.

“But the real catalyst must have been when she called him by the name of someone else while they were being intimate.

“He was of the view that she was seeking solace elsewhere, and this has clearly had a significant impact on him.”

In a witness statement Denise’s son Ryan said he considered the defendant “his dad” and had been left devastated by what had happened.

Jailing Hemming, Judge Michael Stokes QC said: “You obsessed with Denise’s potential or possible relationship with someone else.

“This was a brutal and unnecessary killing against a woman with no opportunity to defend herself. There was no need for it.

“The wickedness of what you did is really demonstrated by the words of Ryan, when he says you have ripped the heart out of his family.

“He trusted you, and this is particularly gruelling for him.”


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