Mum-of-two ‘raped & murdered by coercive ex-fiance’ at luxury hotel after agreeing to celebrate his 60th birthday
A MUM-OF-TWO was raped and murdered by her “controlling and coercive” ex-fiance at a luxury hotel, a court has been told.
Samantha Mickleburgh, 54, was found dead after she arranged to celebrate her former partner’s 60th birthday with him at the swanky Pennyhill Park Hotel in Bagshot, Surrey, on April 14 last year.
The mum, from Axminster in Devon, stayed in a twin room with her ex-fiance James Cartwright the night before because she “didn’t want him to feel lonely”, a jury heard on Tuesday.
Cartwright, 61, is standing trial at Guildford Crown Court accused of raping and murdering Ms Mickleburgh between April 12 and April 14 last year.
Prosecutor Louise Oakley told jurors that Samantha had ended the relationship a few months earlier in February.
The court heard the relationship between Cartwright and Ms Mickleburgh, which began in the summer of 2022, was “somewhat of a whirlwind” and that they got engaged in September 2023.
Following the separation, Cartwright continued to pursue Ms Mickleburgh, attending her address unexpectedly and uninvited, and “bombarding her” with messages and calls, Ms Oakley said.
“She didn’t wish him any ill, but she no longer wanted to live with him and no longer wanted to be in a relationship with him,” Ms Oakley said.
“But part of her also felt bad for him, believing that he had no one else to spend that day with.
“As a result, she had arranged a celebratory meal and stay at Penny Hill Park and Spa, and in a final act of selflessness, she honoured that commitment despite telling friends and family that the relationship was over.”
Following the incident, Cartwright dialled 999 at around 8.30am and said the victim was unresponsive, jurors were told.
“That was a lie,” Ms Oakley continued.
“He had most likely killed her in the early hours of the April 14 2024 with his own bare hands applying manual pressure around her neck, extinguishing her life.”
A post-mortem examination found Samantha’s body had sustained “a significant head injury” as well as fractures to bones in her neck – consistent with signs of strangulation.
Ms Oakley added: “There were only two people in this room – and she couldn’t have and didn’t strangle herself.”
The former couple headed out for a six course tasting menu at the hotel’s Michelin starred restaurant The Latymer on the evening of April 13, jurors were told.
During the meal, staff observed that Samantha appeared unwell and that she “looked more and more sleepy and at points her eyes were closed and she looked like she was sleeping,” prosecution said.
They paid their bill and left the restaurant at around 10.30pm, while CCTV footage snapped the two walking back to their room a few minutes after.
“This is the last time Samantha Mickleburgh was seen alive,” Ms Oakley told the court.
Cartwright was arrested by police on April 19 last year and interviewed by officers.
The accused told cops that his ex-fiance “perked up” after they left the restaurant.
He then claimed the two had consensual sex before “falling asleep in each other’s arms,” prosecution said.
Ms Oakley said: “She had intended at some point to tell him that this was the last time they would see each other.
“Is this what caused James Cartwright’s explosion of violence?
“He had started to lose control of his relationship with Samantha because of his own controlling and coercive ways.”
The trial continues.
