They argued, he put his hands over her throat, mouth & nose
The brother-in-law of midwife’s ex admits murdering her during affair
MICHAEL Stirling suffocated midwife Samantha Eastwood after simmering tension over their affair exploded in a murderous rage, a court heard yesterday.
The cheating 32-year-old admitted killing the NHS worker and dumping her body by a disused salt quarry, wrapped in a single duvet with tape round her eyes and face.
Stirling is married to Samantha’s ex-fiance John Peake’s sister, Katie.
He and Samantha had been having a longstanding affair and on the afternoon of the killing they had a furious row.
His barrister Charles Miskin QC told the court: “This was not a pre-meditated act. The context of the killing was a background of growing tension arising from a longstanding but not particularly intense affair.
“Various things were said. There was an argument and that 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. As a result of that, she died. 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 panicked and buried her. He accepts he misled others in the aftermath of the killing. “He is horrified about what happened.” Samantha, 28, of Baddeley Green, Staffordshire, vanished on July 27 after leaving a night shift at Royal Stoke University Hospital. A neighbour reported hearing a scream from her home at about 2pm the following day.
Her body was found eight days later in a rural area at nearby Caverswall.
Samantha and John socialised with Stirling and Katie, 34. One picture showed them all at a wedding sitting next to each other and smiling.
Two days before the murder, fence builder Stirling looked up ways of killing himself using antifreeze, carbon monoxide and suffocation, the court heard. Prosecutor Jonas Hankin QC said: “He has a history of depression.”
Stirling appeared at Northampton crown court via video link from Hewell prison in Worcestershire.
He sobbed as he pleaded guilty to murder. Samantha’s mum Carole, sister Gemma Eastwood, 26, and John, 34, watched from the public gallery.
Stirling was remanded in custody and is due to be sentenced at Stafford crown court on December 3. Murder carries a mandatory life sentence. After the hearing, her family left without comment. But Detective Inspector Dan Ison said: “I’m pleased that Michael Stirling has pleaded guilty.
“It will save a lot of heartache for the family. We would have had to have a trial which would be terrible for the family.
“They would have heard some horrendous evidence. It has saved an emotional rollercoaster. The family are very emotional, but relieved he has accepted what he has done.”
Samantha and John were due to marry in June but they split and the wedding was called off at the start of the year.
This will save the family heartache. They are relieved DET INSP DAN ISON ON STIRLING’S GUILTY PLEA