Man found guilty of murder following trial at Guildford Crown Court

A man who killed a woman and then dumped her body by the side of the A3 in Guildford has been convicted of murder today (9 March), following a trial at Guildford Crown Court.

 

Dane Messam, 52, of Henry Road, Hackney, was found guilty of the murder of 41-year-old Helen Anderson by the jury in less than three hours following a four-week trial.

Helen’s body was discovered on Monday, 23 August last year by a member of the public by the side of the A3 junction in Guildford. A murder investigation was swiftly launched by the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team.

Messam, who was involved in an on-off relationship with Helen, was quickly identified as the main suspect. He was later found driving a red and white decommissioned double decker bus near Bicester and arrested the evening after Helen’s body was discovered (Tuesday 24 August).  

Messam is due to be sentenced at Guildford Crown Court on 22 April.

Detective Chief Inspector Emma Vickers, from the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team, said: “Our thoughts remain with Helen’s friends and family, and we hope that the guilty verdict today will bring them some closure and allow them to start rebuilding their lives.”