Michael Henley filmed chasing, ramming Nick Darling and Lewis Bennett’s car in minutes before fatal crash

Security cameras and mobile phones captured a ute being pursued and rammed through the suburbs in a wild pursuit that ended in tragedy.

A man standing outside the front of his southern suburbs home filmed the final seconds of a sustained battle between the occupants of two cars before one of them crashed off the road, killing its passenger.

Michael Henley, 24, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to manslaughter on the eve of his trial for the murder of Nick Darling in July 2021.

On Thursday, Justice Sandi McDonald viewed footage from security and traffic cameras as well as phone cameras to better understand the lead up to the crash.

Henley was caught on film chasing a ute driven by Lewis Bennett with Mr Darling as his passenger through the streets of Morphett Vale.

The security footage caught Mr Bennett driving away from Henley’s house where they had smashed a window with a pole.

Michael Henley has pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Photo: SA Police

Nick Darling was killed in the hit-run crash at Morphett Vale. Picture: Facebook

Mr Bennett drove on to a bike path to make a hasty exit but was followed close behind by Henley in a lighter, faster car.

Footage from homes on Flaxmill Rd showed Henley taking a run up to ram Mr Bennett’s car when it temporarily stalled at an intersection.

Damage to the front and back of Henley’s car indicated he had rammed Mr Bennett using both ends of his vehicle.

Screen grab of security and mobile phone footage showing the fatal car chase which killed Nick Darling and led to Michael Henley pleading guilty to manslaughter. Picture: Supreme Court.

The footage shows a man hanging outside Henley’s car as he gave chase. Picture: Supreme Court.

Nick Darling died in a hit-run after his car was chased by Michael Henley.

The final footage was filmed by a bystander on Flaxmill Road who captured Henley weaving behind the car trying to ram Mr Bennett.

A passenger in Henley’s car was hanging out the broken rear window filming the incident on his mobile phone. That footage has never been recovered.

The cars disappeared over a rise on Flaxmill Rd before a loud bang could be heard followed by the revving of Henley’s car leaving the scene at speed.

Mr Darling’s friends and family in the court were left distressed by the video and Justice McDonald briefly adjourned the court.

Screengrab of a video posted by Henley in the days before the hit-run crash that killed Nick Darling.

Michael Foundas, prosecuting, said an additional piece of footage showed Mr Bennett’s car sliding and then rolling off the road before coming to rest.

It also showed Henley’s car leaving the scene without braking.

However, with the support of Mr Foundas and Andrew Culshaw, for Henley, Justice McDonald decided against viewing the footage in open court, instead electing to watch it in her chambers.

Mr Culshaw said a decline in the road had contributed to the crash.

“The decline was not steep but not negligible either,” he said.

“My client was chasing Mr Bennett with the intent of ramming him. It was disgraceful behaviour obviously but up until the fatal crash nothing bad had come from it.

“This was a tragic but totally unintended consequence.”

Later footage showed Henley dumping his car off the Southern Expressway before returning home and departing on a dirt bike.

At almost 1am the next day an SUV arrived at the dumped car and torched it before leaving.

On Wednesday, Mr Foundas told the court the fatal crash had been the product of years of rising tensions between the men linked to sex, women and violence.

Justice McDonald will conduct a view of Flaxmill Rd next week before returning to court for further sentencing submissions in August.