A MAN accused of murdering his ex-fiancee wrote “I miss you so much, I’m heartbroken” in a chilling Facebook tribute.
James Cartwright, 61, is on trial for the rape and murder of Samantha Mickleburgh.
James Cartwright, 61, is on trial for the rape and murder of Samantha Mickleburgh
Surrey PoliceSamantha Mickleburgh celebrated his birthday with her ex[/caption]
Samantha was found dead at the Pennyhill Park Hotel in Bagshot, Surrey, on the morning of April 14 last year
She arranged to celebrate his 60th birthday with him at a luxury hotel so he wouldn’t be lonely, a court heard.
But she was found dead at the Pennyhill Park Hotel in Bagshot, Surrey, on the morning of April 14 last year.
The kind 54-year-old mum, from Axminster in Devon, stayed in a twin room with her ex because she “didn’t want him to feel lonely”, a jury heard on Tuesday.
Cartwright is standing trial at Guildford Crown Court and denies raping and murdering her.
He also denies one count of controlling and coercive behaviour between May 1 2022 and April 14 2024.
During the trial on Friday, prosecutor Louise Oakley read out a Facebook post written by Cartwright on April 15 2024.
It said: “I am so heartbroken and devastated at the very sudden and unexpected loss of my gorgeous, kind, caring, and loving partner Samantha during the night of my birthday at Pennyhill Park Hotel in Bagshot, Surrey, after such a wonderful and happy evening.”
He said “I simply do not have the words” and referred to how his “extreme grief” was shared by her close family members.
Cartwright wrote about how family, friends and colleagues, past and present, would all be “as shocked and sad as I am at her sudden passing”.
He wrote: “I miss you so much sweetheart and have no idea how I’m going to live without you. You have left such an enormous hole in all our lives.
“Rest in peace my darling. I love you so very much and always will.”
Earlier this week jurors were told that Cartwright called 999 at about 8.30am on April 14 claiming he had discovered the lifeless body of Samantha lying next to him in bed.
“That was a lie,” Ms Oakley said. “He had most likely killed her in the early hours of April 14 2024 with his own bare hands applying manual pressure around her neck, extinguishing her life.”
She added: “There were only two people in this room – and she couldn’t have and didn’t strangle herself.”
The court heard the relationship between Cartwright and Samantha, which began in the summer of 2022, was “somewhat of a whirlwind” and that they got engaged in September 2023.
Samantha ended her relationship with Cartwright in February 2024.
Following their break-up, Cartwright had continued to pursue the mum, attending her address 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.
“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 stay at Penny Hill Park and Spa, and in a final act of selflessness, she honoured that commitment despite telling friends and family that the relationship was over.”
The former couple headed out for a six course tasting menu at the hotel’s Michelin starred restaurant The Latymer on the evening of April 13, jurors were told.
During the meal, staff observed that Samantha appeared unwell and that she “looked more and more sleepy and at points her eyes were closed and she looked like she was sleeping,” prosecution said.
They paid their bill and left the restaurant at around 10.30pm, while CCTV footage snapped the two walking back to their room a few minutes after.
“This is the last time Samantha Mickleburgh was seen alive,” Ms Oakley told the court.
Cartwright was arrested by police on April 19 last year and interviewed by officers.
The accused told cops that his ex-fiance “perked up” after they left the restaurant.
He then claimed the two had consensual sex before “falling asleep in each other’s arms,” prosecution said.
Ms Oakley said: “She had intended at some point to tell him that this was the last time they would see each other.
“Is this what caused James Cartwright’s explosion of violence?”
The trial continues.
The relationship between Cartwright and Samantha, which began in the summer of 2022, was “somewhat of a whirlwind”
FacebookJames Cartwright denies one count of controlling and coercive behaviour between May 1 2022 and April 14 2024[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
