Midwife strangled and dumped in shallow grave after row over affair
Family’s relief as ex-fiancé’s brother-in-law admits to murdering Samantha Eastwood in ‘intense rage’
A MIDWIFE was murdered by the brother-in-law of her former fiancé as the pair argued about their “longstanding affair”, a court has heard.
Michael Stirling, 32, was in an “intense rage” with his lover Samantha Eastwood amid “growing tensions” in their relationship when he killed her with his bare hands and dumped her body in a shallow grave.
She was found wrapped in a duvet with tape around her eyes and face near the village of Caverswall, Staffs, eight days after she was reported missing when she failed to turn up for work at Royal Stoke University Hospital.
During the search for Miss Eastwood, 28, it emerged that she and her fiancé John Peake, 34, had been due to marry in June but the wedding was called off in January and she put her wedding dress up for sale on Facebook.
Friends say that the split was mutual but she had not discussed the reasons behind it.
Northampton Crown Court heard that she had been having an affair with Stirling, who was married to Mr Peake’s sister, Katie.
The landscape gardener yesterday admitted killing Miss Eastwood at her home in Baddeley Green, Staffs, between July 26 and August 5.
Stirling appeared at court via a video link wearing a dark grey T-shirt, as Miss Eastwood’s mother, sister, and Mr Peake watched from the public gallery.
Charles Miskin QC, defending, told the court: “First of all this was not a premeditated act.
“Secondly, the context of the killing was a background of growing tension arising from a long-standing affair.
“On the afternoon of the killing, various things were said between Stirling and Samantha Eastwood, which led to him becoming very angry. There was an argument. After a struggle, and while she was on the floor, he had his hands over her throat, her mouth and nose – as a result of which she died.
“During his intense rage he originally intended to cause her really serious bodily harm but matters escalated and he formed and carried out an intention to kill her. He panicked afterwards and buried her in an area of which he had some knowledge.”
The court heard that Stirling looked up ways of killing himself using antifreeze, carbon monoxide and suffocation two days before the murder and had a history of depression.
Speaking afterwards, Det Insp Dan Ison, of Staffordshire Police, said the guilty plea had saved the family from enduring an “emotional roller coaster”.
He added: “The family are very emotional today, but relieved that he has accepted what he has done.”
Stirling will be sentenced at Stafford Crown Court on Dec 3.