DOMINIC ISOM SENTENCED FOR LIFE IN CORFE CASTLE MURDER OF SAMANTHA HENDERSON

Dominic Isom, a 28-year-old man from Corfe Castle, was formally sentenced to life imprisonment after being found guilty of the brutal murder of his fiancée, Samantha Henderson. The tragic incident unfolded at their shared residence, where Isom inflicted fatal injuries upon Samantha before disposing of her body in a nearby lake. The court proceedings revealed harrowing details of the case, which left the community in shock and mourning.

Samantha Henderson, a mother of four children, was last seen on January 21 when she left her home in Corfe Castle to take her children to school. Her disappearance prompted an extensive search by local residents and authorities, but it was over a week later that her body was discovered in a lake in Hamworthy, approximately eight miles from her home. The post-mortem examination confirmed that Samantha had suffered a violent assault to her head and neck, with multiple injuries indicating a brutal attack.

Her body was found wrapped in a child's duvet, with her bloodstained clothes also recovered at the scene. Investigators determined that Isom had taken her to the lake after cleaning the bloodstained area where she had bled. He had weighed her down with concrete blocks to prevent her body from surfacing. Prior to her death, Isom had admitted to causing the injuries that led to her demise but denied intentionally murdering her. The jury, after just four hours of deliberation, rejected his defense that she had fallen and hit her head during a struggle in their shed.

During the trial, it was revealed that Isom had a lengthy criminal history, with 20 previous convictions spanning 36 different offenses. Notably, he had been convicted twice for causing grievous bodily harm (GBH). His past included a three-year jail sentence in 2010 for attacking a rival gang member with a golf club at Poole railway station, which resulted in serious injuries including a collapsed lung and fractured rib. Despite his criminal record, Isom and Samantha had reunited after a previous assault incident in 2013, and they had since been living together in Corfe Castle with two children from previous relationships, as well as their own two children. The couple had plans to relocate to Exeter and were hoping to expand their family further with a fifth child.

Isom’s defense argued that Samantha had attacked one of their children, prompting him to intervene. However, the court was presented with evidence that painted a different picture of the night of her disappearance. A friend who visited the couple’s home after Samantha was missing reported that the house reeked of bleach, and Isom was seen scrubbing the floors, claiming that the dogs had made a mess. The prosecution highlighted that Isom had failed to report Samantha missing until 16 hours after her disappearance, attempting to cover his tracks by leaving messages on her phone and sending a WhatsApp message reading, “Sam, where are you? Please come home, you are better than running away. We all love you.”

Following her disappearance, police arrested Isom before her body was recovered. The investigation confirmed that Samantha had suffered a violent attack, with injuries consistent with a severe assault. Her family, devastated by the loss, expressed their grief and gratitude for the community’s support. Her mother described Samantha as a caring, fun, and vibrant daughter who was cruelly taken from them in January. The community of Corfe Castle and Poole played a vital role in searching for her and supporting her family during this difficult time.

Today’s verdict brings a measure of justice for Samantha Henderson, but her loved ones are left to mourn the loss of a mother, daughter, and friend who was taken far too soon. The court’s decision underscores the severity of the crime and the devastating impact it has had on her family and the wider community.