Midwife’s secret lover killed her with bare hands in a furious rage
A MIDWIFE’s secret lover yesterday admitted murdering her in an “intense rage” before dumping her body in a ditch.
Nurse Samantha Eastwood, 28, was last seen on July 27 as she left Royal Stoke University Hospital following a night shift.
Eight days later her body was discovered at an old salt quarry, wrapped in a duvet cover with masking tape covering her face and eyes.
At Northampton Crown Court, Michael Stirling, 32, admitted murdering Miss Eastwood – after confessing they shared a secret “longstanding affair”.
Stirling’s wife Katie, also 32, is the sister of John Peake, 34, who dated Samantha for several years but had broken up.
Fencing contractor Stirling sobbed as he appeared via videolink to admit killing the NHS worker in her home with his bare hands.
Sporting a beard, Stirling sat at a table as Miss Eastwood’s mother, sister and Mr Peake watched from the public gallery.
Panicked
Stirling had wrapped his hands around Miss Eastwood’s throat, mouth and nose as she lay on the floor after flying into an “intense rage”.
Charles Miskin QC, defending, explained how there had been simmering “growing tension” between the pair after a “long-standing affair”.
He said: “This was not a premeditated act. On the afternoon of the killing various things were said and there was an argument.
“He became very angry and while she was on the floor he put his hands around her throat, her mouth and nose. As a result she died.
“During his intense rage he originally intended to cause her really serious bodily harm but after matters escalated he carried out the intention to kill her. He panicked and buried her in an area of which he had some knowledge.”
Mr Miskin added: “He entirely accepts he tried, wholly dishonestly, to mislead others in the afternoon after the killing.
“He is absolutely horrified about what happened and he is deeply sorry. Not only for himself, but for all those others who are victims of this crime.” Miss Eastwood was reported missing after failing to return to work.
CCTV had shown her driving towards home in her Volvo. She was never seen alive again.
Miss Eastwood and Mr Peake, who manages a steam railway, were together for seven years. Before they separated the couple saw Stirling and his wife Katie socially.
But despite being due to marry in June this year they suddenly split up last January and she put her wedding dress up for sale on Facebook.
Miss Eastwood’s body was discovered in the quarry at Caverswall, near Cheadle, Staffs.
Stirling was charged with her murder the next day.
Prosecutor Jonas Hankin QC said that two days before the murder Stirling had researched methods on how to “kill oneself”.
Stirling, of Stoke-on-Trent, will be sentenced at Stafford Crown Court on December 3 and is expected to be jailed for life.