Mother-of-two ‘raped and murdered by controlling and coercive ex-fiance’ after she agreed to celebrate his 60th birthday at luxury five-star hotel

A court killed her former fiancée after organizing her 60th birthday to celebrate her birthday in a luxury hotel.

Samantha Mickleburgh was found dead at the five -star Pennyhill Park Hotel on April 14 last year.

A jury was told, the 54 -year -old two of their 54 -year -old mother, on their birthday, ‘because they did not want to feel alone’ former engaged James Cartwright with a twin room had arranged to stay.

Cartwright, 61 -year -old without a fixed address, is accused of rape and kill Mrs. Mickleburgh.

He also rejected a number of control and compelling behavior between May 1, 2022 and 14 April 2024.

Prosecutor Louise Oakley, who opened the hearing in Guildford Crown Court in Surrey yesterday, said the jury members ended his relationship with Cartwright in February 2024.

“He didn’t want to be sick to him, but he didn’t want to live with him anymore, and he didn’t want to be in a relationship with him anymore, Mrs said Mrs. Oakley.

But some of him felt bad for him, he believed he had no one else to spend that day.

In the picture: Bagshot, Five Star Pennyhill Park Hotel in Surrey, Mrs. Mickleburgh was found dead

The post -death examination of Mrs. Mickleburgh’s body revealed evidence that it was ‘an important head trauma’.

‘As a result, he organized a celebration dinner and remained in Penny Hill Park and Spa and honored this commitment, although he told his friends and family in a last dedication action.’

Cartwright called 999 at 8.30 on April 14th. Mickleburgh claimed that he had found his lifeless body next to him at the hotel in Bagshot.

“This was a lie,” Mrs. Oakley said. ‘He probably killed him in the early hours, and his bare hands were making his life extinguishing by applying manual pressure around his neck.’ ‘

According to the jury members, a post -death examination of Mrs. Mickleburgh’s body showed that it was broken to the consistent bones with a ‘important head trauma’ and drowning on her neck.

“There were only two people in this room – and he couldn’t drown and drowned, Ms Mrs. Oakley said.

The jury members, Mrs. Mickleburgh and Cartwright joined the hotel’s Michelin star restaurant for six kinds of taste menu on April 13th.

However, Mrs. Mickleburgh began to feel good, the staff realized that ‘he looked increasingly sleepy and his eyes were closed and he looked as he was sleeping’.

At 22.30, the couple left the restaurant and was seen walking into their rooms at CCTV.

Cartwright (in the picture) called 999 at 8.30 on April 14th.

Prosecutor Louise Oakley, who opened the hearing at the Guildford Crown Court in Surrey yesterday, ended the jury members’ relationship with Cartwright in February 2024.

In his statement to the court, `This is the last time when Samantha Mickleburgh was seen alive, ‘he said.

In an interview with Surrey police after his arrest on April 19 last year, Cartwright said that Mrs. Mickleburgh was uncomfortable at dinner, but ‘rising’ on its way back to its rooms.

Then the police, ‘each other’s arms before falling asleep’ said they had sex -based sex.

Mrs. Mickleburgh’s son Alexander told the court that he felt ‘uncomfortable’ about his trip with Cartwright.

He said that he was talking to his mother from Devon from Axminster on the morning of April 13th.

When asked if the couple was discussed if they argued if they discussed the trip with Cartwright, Mickleburgh said to the jury members:

But it was uncomfortable. He made it clear that he would see him for the last time. ‘

In 2023, Mr. Mickleburgh, who lived with his mother and Cartwright for a while, described his behavior around the defendant’s mother as ‘poor, pathetic and needy’.

Jessica, the daughter of Mrs. Mickleburgh, also made the jury members feel guilty when they expressed their reluctance to celebrate their 60th birthday.

It was apparently sad, he said to the court: ‘He sent him many messages that brutally calling him because he did not want to spend that time with him.’

The court heard that the relationship between Cartwright and Mrs. Mickleburgh, which began in the summer of 2022, was a ‘hurricane’ and engaged in September 2023.

But after their departure, Cartwright continued to follow Mrs. Mickleburgh, Oak Oakley said.

The authority added: ‘He had begun to lose control of his relationship with Samantha because of his control and compelling ways.’

The hearing continues.