Widow’s grief at spot where she saw raiders kill husband
THE “completely heartbroken” widow of a former Royal Navy officer yesterday returned to the spot where she saw him killed by thieves stealing their car.
Mike Samwell, 35, was run over by intruders who had just raided the couple’s £500,000 home in the early hours of Sunday morning.
The engineer had confronted them after they broke into the house and stole the keys to his £35,000 Audi S3.
Last night relatives revealed that his wife, Jessica, 33, had dashed after him and saw him struck by the fleeing thieves.
Medics battled to save Mr Samwell but he died in hospital.
Detectives were last night continuing to quiz a 21-year-old man over the tragedy in Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester.
Tearful Mrs Samwell returned home yesterday and passed the spot where her husband was hit.
She left the house clutching a bed pillow.
Mr Samwell’s uncle Cliff Blake said: “Jess saw the whole thing happen.
“They heard something, as someone had broken in and Mike went downstairs to see what was going on.
Screaming
“Jess followed but Mike had gone outside. They drove at him and killed him. It’s just horrific.
“She’ll have those images with her for the rest of her life.”
The couple were married in 2011 in Cheshire, with Mr Samwell – a serving officer at the time – wearing his uniform and fellow officers forming a guard of honour with their swords.
Her brother Simon Lowth said: “She’s in total shock, completely heartbroken.”
Neighbours, including an off-duty police officer, ran out at around 3am after hearing Mrs Samwell screaming for help.
A neighbour in the basement flat next door said: “I heard his wife screaming. She was screaming for help and screaming his name.”
The neighbour, who did not wish to be named, added: “By the time I got out there were other neighbours already attending.
“I think one of the neighbours was an off-duty policewoman so she took charge.”
Another local said there was “a very high burglary rate” in the area.
Mike Taylor, who works at a local barbers where Mr Samwell was a customer, yesterday laid a floral tribute at the scene. He said: “I only saw him last week. Such a nice bloke… really, really nice bloke.”
Mike Walsh, 40, a minister, led a vigil for the family with the congregation of Chorlton Central Church on Sunday night. He said: “There’s a great sadness but we are here to show our strength, love and support for Michael’s family.”
Mr Samwell trained as an officer at Britannia Royal Naval College in Devon and spent around a decade in the senior service before leaving in 2014. He then joined an engineering firm in Warrington as a programme manager.
Greater Manchester Police appealed for witnesses and anyone with CCTV footage to contact them.
Detectives also asked for any information about a blue, five-door BMW 1 Series car seen in the area at the time and thought to have been used by the suspects.