Midwife was killed in ‘intense rage’
CRIME: A man has pleaded guilty to murdering a midwife in a bout of “intense rage” after having a “long-standing affair” with her, a court heard.
The body of 28-year-old Samantha Eastwood was discovered in a shallow grave in a rural area in Staffordshire, in August, wrapped in a duvet, with tape around her eyes and face.
A MAN has pleaded guilty to murdering a midwife in a bout of “intense rage” after having a “longstanding affair” with her, a court heard.
The body of 28-year-old Samantha Eastwood was discovered in a shallow grave in a rural area near Caverswall, Staffordshire, in August, wrapped in a duvet, with tape around her eyes and face.
Michael Stirling, the brotherin-law of the victim’s ex-fiancé John Peake, appeared via video link yesterday when he admitted murder.
The 32-year-old, sporting a full beard, was sat at a table, wearing a dark grey T-shirt, as Miss Eastwood’s mother, sister, and Mr Peake watched from the public gallery at Northampton Crown Court.
After Stirling entered his plea, his barrister Charles Miskin QC addressed the court to provide the basis of that plea.
He said: “This was not a premeditated act.
“The context of the killing was a background of growing tension arising from a long-standing, but not particularly intense affair.”
He said that on the afternoon of the killing “various things were said” between the two, leading to a row.
Mr Miskin added: “There was an argument in that context and led to him being very angry.
“After a struggle and while she was on the floor, he put his hands over her throat, her mouth and nose, and as a result of that she died.”
Mr Miskin said: “During his intense rage, he originally intended to cause her really serious bodily harm, but matters escalated and he carried out the intention to kill her.”
He added: “He panicked afterwards and buried her in an area of which he had some knowledge. He entirely accepts that he tried, wholly dishonestly, to mislead others in the aftermath after the killing.
“He is absolutely horrified about what happened and is deeply sorry, not for himself, but for all the others who are victims of this crime.”
The defendant, the court also heard, had “never been in any sort of trouble”, prior to murdering Miss Eastwood.
Stirling, of Gratton Road, Bucknall, Stoke-on-Trent, admitted killing the victim between July 26 and August 5 at Baddeley Green, in Stoke.
Jonas Hankin QC, prosecuting, said that two days before the murder Stirling had researched methods on how to “kill oneself ” on his laptop.
Stirling was remanded in custody to appear at Stafford Crown Court for sentencing on December 3.