Midwife’s body was taped up in shallow grave, court hears

A MIDWIFE was found in a shallow grave, wrapped in a duvet cover and with masking tape around her eyes and face, a court has heard.

The body of Samantha Eastwood, 28, was discovered in a rural area near Caverswall, Staffs, on Saturday eight days after she disappeared.

Michael Stirling, 32, appeared at Stafford Crown Court yesterday charged with murdering the Royal Stoke Hospital worker.

Appearing from HMP Dovecote via video-link, wearing a high-vis vest and a grey T-shirt, he spoke only to confirm his name, age and nationality and that he understood the proceedings.

The court heard that Miss Eastwood had been found in a shallow grave, with masking tape around her face and eyes, and had been wrapped inside a single duvet cover.

A preliminary post-mortem examination did not reveal any gunshot, stab or penetrating wounds, and further analysis was due to be carried out, Judge Michael Challinor QC was told.

Mr Stirling, of Bucknall, Stoke-ontrent, is the brother-in-law of Miss Eastwood’s ex-fiancé, John Peake, and is accused of murdering the midwife between July 26 and August 5 at Baddeley Green, Stoke.

He was remanded in custody to appear at Northampton Crown Court for a plea hearing on Oct 5.

His trial date was also provisionally set for Feb 4 next year, but the judge told him that the date was unlikely to remain fixed.

Two other men, aged 28 and 60, who were arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender, remain on conditional police bail while inquiries continue.

On Monday, Miss Eastwood’s younger sister, Gemma, visited her sibling’s home to take away some of the flowers and keepsakes left by colleagues and members of the public.

In a statement, the midwife’s family said: “We would like to say thank you to all the people who followed Samantha’s story and tried their best to help.”