Man killed ex-fiancee at luxury hotel, court told

A "controlling and coercive" man murdered his ex-fiancee at a luxury hotel after she arranged to celebrate his 60th birthday with him, a court has been told.

Samantha Mickleburgh, from Axminster in Devon, was found dead at the Pennyhill Park Hotel in Bagshot, Surrey, on 14 April 2024.

The 54-year-old mother of two had arranged to stay in a twin room with her ex-fiance James Cartwright the night before, as she "didn't want him to feel lonely" on his birthday, a jury heard on Tuesday.

Mr Cartwright, 61, of no fixed address, is standing trial at Guildford Crown Court accused of rape and murder.

He also denies one count of controlling and coercive behaviour.

Prosecutor Louise Oakley, opening the trial, said Ms Mickleburgh had ended her relationship with Mr Cartwright in February 2024.

"She didn't wish him any ill, but she no longer wanted to live with him and no longer wanted to be in a relationship with him," Ms Oakley said.

"But part of her also felt bad for him, believing that he had no one else to spend that day with.

"As a result, she had arranged a celebratory meal and hotel stay in a final act of selflessness.

"She honoured that commitment despite telling friends and family that the relationship was over."

Mr Cartwright called 999 claiming he had discovered the lifeless body of Ms Mickleburgh lying next to him in bed, jurors were told.

"That was a lie," Ms Oakley said.

"He had most likely killed her with his own bare hands applying manual pressure around her neck, extinguishing her life."

A post-mortem examination of Ms Mickleburgh's body revealed evidence of "a significant head injury" as well as fractures to bones in her neck which are consistent with an act of strangulation, jurors were told.

The pair had attended the hotel's Michelin starred restaurant for a six course tasting menu, jurors heard.

But during the evening, Ms Mickleburgh began to feel unwell, with staff noticing that she "looked more and more sleepy and at points her eyes were closed and she looked like she was sleeping", the prosecution said.

At around 22:30 BST the pair left the restaurant and were captured on CCTV walking back to the room.

"This is the last time Samantha Mickleburgh was seen alive," Ms Oakley told the court.

In his interview with Surrey Police following his arrest on 19 April last year, Mr Cartwright said Ms Mickleburgh had "perked up" on the way back to their room.

He then told police they had consensual sex before "falling asleep in each other's arms", the prosecution said.

The court heard their relationship, which began in the summer 2022, was "somewhat of a whirlwind" and they got engaged in September 2023.

Following their breakup, Mr Cartwright continued to pursue Ms Mickleburgh, attending her home unexpectedly and uninvited, and "bombarding her" with messages and calls, Ms Oakley said.

"He had started to lose control of his relationship with Samantha because of his own controlling and coercive ways," she added.

The trial continues.

Additional reporting by PA Media.

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