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Witness thought women accused of Sadie Hartley murder were a couple Witness thought women accused of Sadie Hartley murder were a couple
(35 minutes later)
A secret affair that ended in the killing of a businesswoman has been laid bare in a series of explicit text messages. A secret affair that ended in the killing of a businesswoman has been exposed in a series of explicit text messages.
Travel agent Sarah Williams, 35, was alleged to have been aided by horse riding instructor Katrina Walsh, 56, in her “murderous mission” to get rid of love rival Sadie Hartley with the pair consulting tarot cards during their planning. Travel agent Sarah Williams, 35, was alleged to have been aided by horse-riding instructor Katrina Walsh, 56, in her “murderous mission” to get rid of love rival Sadie Hartley, with the pair consulting tarot cards during their planning.
A jury at Preston crown court heard that Hartley, a 60-year-old company director, was incapacitated with a stun gun when she opened the door of her home in Helmshore, Lancashire, and was then stabbed 40 times on 14 January. A jury at Preston crown court was told that Hartley, a 60-year-old company director, was incapacitated with a stun gun when she opened the door of her home in Helmshore, Lancashire, and was then stabbed 40 times on 14 January.
The Crown says Williams began plotting the murder 17 months before when Hartley’s long-time partner Ian Johnston broke off their affair as she became “possessive and difficult”.The Crown says Williams began plotting the murder 17 months before when Hartley’s long-time partner Ian Johnston broke off their affair as she became “possessive and difficult”.
A series of texts were recovered from the phone of Williams showing secret exchanges with former fireman Johnston, 57, with Williams calling herself a “She Devil” and “little psycho”. A series of texts were recovered from the phone of Williams that showed secret exchanges with former fireman Johnston, 57, with Williams calling herself a “she devil” and “little psycho”.
They revealed that the couple had been in a sexual relationship since at least September 2013 and were at times in daily contact with each other. The texts revealed that the couple had been in a sexual relationship since at least September 2013 and were at times in daily contact.
Prosecutor John McDermott read the series of texts between the couple, with Williams saying after one encounter that she had a “lovely time” and that “the sex was fantastic”. Prosecuting, John McDermott QC read the series of texts between the couple, with Williams saying after one encounter that she had had a “lovely time” and that “the sex was fantastic”.
The texts continued in this vein, with a besotted Williams describing Johnston as an “alpha male”, but also saying she was afraid of being hurt by him. The texts continued in this vein, with a besotted Williams describing Johnston as an “alpha male”, but also saying that she was afraid of being hurt by him.
They also revealed that Johnston, a former fireman, had no apparent intention of leaving mother-of-two Hartley, and at times seemed regretful of the affair.They also revealed that Johnston, a former fireman, had no apparent intention of leaving mother-of-two Hartley, and at times seemed regretful of the affair.
In one text, Johnston said: “I wasn’t looking for you or expecting you to appear. Sadie has been through hell. I always do my best to keep people safe. Sometimes I just hate who I am.”In one text, Johnston said: “I wasn’t looking for you or expecting you to appear. Sadie has been through hell. I always do my best to keep people safe. Sometimes I just hate who I am.”
In another text, a frustrated Williams accused Johnston of not showing her enough respect saying: “I am just not good enough.” In another text, a frustrated Williams accused Johnston of not showing her enough respect, saying: “I am just not good enough.”
But separately, Williams texted friends about Johnston, whom she referred to as “the Fireman” and talked of wanting their relationship to progress quickly, confessing to being a “she devil” and saying: “being the little psychopath I am I want to push it along”.But separately, Williams texted friends about Johnston, whom she referred to as “the Fireman” and talked of wanting their relationship to progress quickly, confessing to being a “she devil” and saying: “being the little psychopath I am I want to push it along”.
In one long exchange on Christmas Eve 2013, in which Williams is seemingly eager to spend Christmas with Johnston, he replies: “Sarah, please get that I can’t have you here at this time. This is too difficult. Sorry.” In one long exchange on Christmas Eve 2013, in which Williams is seemingly eager to spend Christmas with Johnston, he replies: “Sarah, please get that I can’t have you here at this time. This is too difficult. Sorry.
“I can’t have you coming round when all these people know Sadie. It’s not about you it’s about me sorry.”“I can’t have you coming round when all these people know Sadie. It’s not about you it’s about me sorry.”
In another message he says: “Sadie has been very kind to me. I am not going to just blow her out. That’s just not who I am. This is way too heavy.” In another message he says: “Sadie has been very kind to me. I am not going to just blow her out. That’s just not who I am. This is way too heavy.” Another states: “You knew I was seeing Sadie when all this started. It’s not about you, it’s about me.”
Another states: “You knew I was seeing Sadie when all this started. It’s not about you, it’s about me.”
In a series of texts, Williams replies: “I’m just never good enough … I should not be feeling like this and sobbing my heart out. I’m sorry for loving you, I’m sorry for caring …”In a series of texts, Williams replies: “I’m just never good enough … I should not be feeling like this and sobbing my heart out. I’m sorry for loving you, I’m sorry for caring …”
Johnston also accused Williams of having a relationship with an older man, David Hardwick, 75, for financial gain. But Williams replied: “I don’t fuck him for money to finance my lifestyle. I have not slept with him for a very long time.”Johnston also accused Williams of having a relationship with an older man, David Hardwick, 75, for financial gain. But Williams replied: “I don’t fuck him for money to finance my lifestyle. I have not slept with him for a very long time.”
Johnston’s partner, Hartley, became aware of the relationship in September 2014 when Williams, in an “act of complete spitefulness”, sent a letter to her detailing the affair. Johnston’s partner, Hartley, became aware of the relationship between Johnston and Williams in September 2014 when Williams, in an “act of complete spitefulness”, sent a letter to her detailing the affair.
In a diary entry by the co-defendant Walsh it is alleged that Hartley rang Williams after receiving the letter with Williams texting that a “bomb had gone off”. In a diary entry by the co-defendant Walsh it is alleged that Hartley rang Williams after receiving the letter, with Williams texting that a “bomb had gone off”.
Meanwhile, Walsh’s friend Ann Riley told the court she had never met Williams but Walsh would talk about her incessantly during horse riding lessons. Meanwhile, Walsh’s friend Ann Riley told the court she had never met Williams but Walsh would talk about her incessantly during horse-riding lessons. She said: “She gave me the impression that they were a couple. They went on holiday together and spent a lot of time with each other.”
She said: “She gave me the impression that they were a couple. They went on holiday together and spent a lot of time with each other.” The court heard Williams would regularly visit Walsh’s home with her dog and watch films on her bed. The witness said she was later “surprised” to learn that Williams already had a partner, Hardwick, who has been labelled in court as her “sugar daddy”.
The court heard Williams would regularly visit her Walsh’s home with her dog and watch films on her bed. A former work colleague of Williams said she felt uncomfortable with her lifestyle and refused to engage in conversation with her about the subject.
The witness said she was later “surprised” to learn that Williams already had a partner, Hardwick, , who has been labelled in court as her “sugar daddy”. Kerry Williams said she was aware Sarah Williams was in a relationship with Hardwick and later told of the affair with Johnston.
While a former work colleague of Williams said she felt uncomfortable with her philandering lifestyle and refused to engage in conversation with her about the subject. She said: “The information I was aware of was that Ian was with somebody, a rich lady, but it didn’t matter because he was going to leave her for Sarah. She was of the mindset that their relationship was progressing.”
Kerry Williams said she was aware Williams was in a relationship with Hardwick and later told of the affair with Johnston. She said she did not ask for further details and said to the defendant: “It’s just like deja vu. Here we go again, I don’t want to know.”
She said: “The information I was aware of was that Ian was with somebody, a rich lady, but it didn’t matter because he was going to leave her for Sarah. Kerry Williams formed the view that Sarah Williams was in “a fantasy world”.
“She was of the mindset that their relationship was progressing.” Michaela Burns, who knew Sarah Williams through their shared interest in horses, said the defendant worked part-time at a bank when they first met eight years ago.
She said she did not ask for further details and said to the defendant: “It’s just like déjà vu. Here we go again, I don’t want to know.” She, too, knew of the relationship with Hardwick, whom she said was “clearly very well off”.
She formed the view that Williams was in “a fantasy world”. Burns said: “Sarah was not shy about saying she was financially dependent on him and they seemed to live quite a good lifestyle.”
Michaela Burns, who knew Williams through their shared interest in horses, said the defendant worked part-time at a bank when she they first met eight years ago.
She too knew of the relationship with Hardwick who she said was “clearly very well off”.
Ms Burns said: “Sarah was not shy about saying she was financially dependent on him and they seemed to live quite a good lifestyle.”
She said Williams had two houses and would go on skiing holidays a couple of times a year.She said Williams had two houses and would go on skiing holidays a couple of times a year.
The witness told prosecutor John McDermott QC that Williams eventually became “unhappy” in the relationship with Hardwick. The witness told McDermott that Williams eventually became “unhappy” in the relationship with Hardwick.
She said: “I think they wanted different things. She said she wanted a baby but David didn’t want one.”She said: “I think they wanted different things. She said she wanted a baby but David didn’t want one.”
Williams, of Treborth Road, Blacon, Chester, and Walsh, of Hare Lane, Chester, deny murder. The case continues.Williams, of Treborth Road, Blacon, Chester, and Walsh, of Hare Lane, Chester, deny murder. The case continues.
ENDS.