Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
LIFE FOR STRANGLING MIDWIFE Haunted by a hug from my sister’s murderer
Thug consoled family to cover tracks He sent texts pretending to be victim
Gemma, giving the impression she was still alive. In one message he wrote: “I love you all, I’ve had a massive breakdown about stuff. I’m so sorry xx. I’ll be OK. I’m in touch with the helpline.
“I’m not going to do anything silly, I just want to be left alone xx.”
In another text to Gemma, sent the day after the murder, he wrote: “Please leave me alone x. I’m sick of pretending I’m OK xx I’m going to go to the Drs, I just need time to blow off some steam.”
When Gemma urged her to make contact, Stirling replied: “I will soon xx.”
The final message he sent before dumping the phone said: “Gem, I’m in a car, blue BMW. He’s taking me to the motorway. I’m sorry. I met a guy off the internet. He’s mad.”
The killer also went to Samantha’s home in Baddeley Green in Stoke, Staffs, to comfort her relatives as a nationwide search was under way.
Mrs Justice Carr said: “In the agonising hours and days that followed, you not only chose to keep your secret from all those who loved Samantha, but also lied over and over again in an attempt to cover up what you had done.”
The judge described the text messages as an act of “breathtaking cruelty”.
She added: “You repeatedly acted deliberately and without remorse; you were composed and callous.”
Samantha had been reported missing by Royal Stoke University Hospital when she failed to turn up for her night shift. She had been captured on CCTV leaving the maternity ward hours before her death. The court was told one of her neighbours heard a woman’s screams around the time of the murder on July 27.
Stirling’s white Vauxhall van was captured on CCTV outside the house and later reversing up to the front door.
Undercover officers began monitoring him after he admitted being at Samantha’s home the day she disappeared. They watched him cycle close to where he had buried the body, leading to a search of the area and the discovery of the grave.
In a victim impact statement at Stafford crown court, Gemma said: “On the night Samantha went missing, he had the audacity to turn up at my sister’s house.
“He had the nerve to walk around my sister’s property like nothing had happened. Every time I mentioned something to the officers, he would always add something to it. He was trying to throw us off the scent.”
The court also heard how Mr Peake went to Samantha’s home after she was reported missing and discovered the personal items on her bed.
He claimed this was “aimed at me”, adding in a statement: “Our relationship had ended and by doing so would point the blame in my direction.”