Mother murdered by former fiancé after ‘last act of kindness'

Telegraph

4 days ago

A mother was murdered by her former fiancé after agreeing to celebrate his 60th birthday with him as a 'last act of kindness'.
James Cartwright, 61, was found guilty of murdering Samantha Mickleburgh, 54, on Thursday.
The mother of two's body was found at the five-star Pennyhill Park Hotel in Bagshot, Surrey, on April 14 last year after she had agreed to stay with her ex-husband because she 'didn't want him to feel lonely' on his birthday.
Cartwright called 999 at about 8.30am on April 14, claiming he had found her lifeless body lying next to him in bed.
On Thursday, a jury at Guildford Crown Court unanimously convicted him of the murder and rape of his former lover.
Cartwright previously claimed that Ms Micklesburgh, of Axminster, Devon, died by falling out of the bed.
Ms Mickleburgh's family wept after the guilty verdict was announced and were seen hugging each other as the trial concluded.
In a statement released through Surrey Police, Ms Mickleburgh's family said they were 'relieved' Cartwright was found guilty.
'We as a family are relieved that this has finally come to an end. That the defendant has been seen for who he truly is, a rapist and a murderer. No longer free to harm or control any more women.
'Unfortunately, it was too late for our beloved daughter, mother, sister and friend.
'She truly was the best of us, the kindest light in all our lives and the hole left behind is one of such severe magnitude we will likely never escape it.'
The Crown Prosecution Service said Cartwright launched a 'vicious and murderous attack'.
Moses Koroma, senior crown prosecutor, said: 'It was clear from the forensic evidence that Samantha had been murdered. She was strangled and had a significant head injury, and the jury saw straight through Cartwright's claims that this had all resulted from her falling out of bed.'
Earlier in the trial, Cartwright told the court that Ms Mickleburgh owed him £100,000 at the time of her death.
The money she allegedly owed him was in relation to tens of thousands of pounds he lent her to help renovate a property she purchased in early 2023.
The former couple lived together and got engaged later that year, where Cartwright proposed on a beach during a holiday.
Cartwright told the court his proposal was met with 'an immediate and emphatic yes' and described their relationship at the time as 'extremely amicable and friendly and loving'.
However, their relationship began to break down when the killer discovered 'highly sexual' messages from Ms Mickleburgh's former partner on her phone and computer.
On Oct 2, he confronted her and admitted standing in front of her car to stop her leaving their home following an argument.
He said he was embarrassed by this behaviour and later apologised.
The pair remained physically intimate and continued to live together until February 2024, but he claimed he no longer trusted her.
Two weeks before moving out, Cartwright found more messages between Ms Mickleburgh and her former partner, but did not confront her.
Following their separation, Cartwright began speak to other women on the dating app Bumble and told one that the dinner with his ex had 'the feel of a final farewell'.
Cartwright, who has been married and divorced three times and had three adult daughters, will be sentenced on Aug 8.