Michael Henley: How ‘love bites’ on woman’s neck sparked a jealous boyfriend’s deadly road rage rampage in Adelaide

A man killed his “best friend” by repeatedly crashing into a car he was in after spotting love bites on his ex-girlfriend’s neck, a court has heard.

Michael Henley, 24, of Morphett Vale in Adelaide, chased another vehicle and repeatedly rammed it until it rolled, killing passenger Nicholas Darling, 20, at around 9:50 p.m. on July 20, 2021.

Henley and Joshua Shawn Rossborough, 21, of Morphett Vale – a passenger in the car – appeared in the Supreme Court on Tuesday to hear sentencing submissions, reported The advertiser.

Henley pleaded guilty to manslaughter and leaving the scene of an accident, while Rossborough pleaded guilty to obstructing an investigation and driving charges.

Solicitor Andrew Culshaw, defending Henley, said his client was furious with the driver of the other car – Lewis Bennett – who was seeing his ex-partner.

Nicholas Darling was tragically killed in the incident

When she came to visit their daughter Henley, she “saw love bites on her neck”, Mr Culshaw told the court.

“This set off a chain of events which ended in tragedy,” Mr Culshaw added.

Mr Culshaw said his client had been diagnosed with “intermittent explosive disorder” and had “nothing on his mind but blind anger at that time”.

He said that although his client was “criminally guilty”, he had “never intended for any of this to happen” and had written a letter of apology.

“Mr Darling’s death was an accident,” Mr Culshaw said.

“This is a case where Henley lives every day knowing that he killed someone who he considered, at least at one time, his best friend.”

In a victim impact statement, the victim’s father, Brian Darling, revealed his devastation at the loss of his son.

“The feeling of loss is so intense that I too want to die to be with you,” Mr Darling said.

Both Henley and Rossborough will be sentenced at a later date.

CCTV footage captured part of fatal car chase (pictured)