Samantha Eastwood murder: Ex-fiance's brother-in-law Michael Stirling admits killing midwife after 'long-standing affair'
28-year-old's body found in shallow grave wrapped in duvet with tape around her eyes and face
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A man has pleaded guilty to murdering Samantha Eastwood, whose body was found buried in a shallow grave in Staffordshire a week after she was reported missing.
Michael Stirling, 32, had been having a longstanding affair with the midwife and flew into an intense rage during an argument on the afternoon of her death, Northampton crown court heard.
He wrapped his hands around her throat, mouth and nose, causing her to die during the struggle, the court was told.
The 28 year-old’s body was found in August, wrapped in a duvet with masking tape around her eyes and face, near the village of Caverswall.
Mr Stirling, the brother-in-law of the victim’s ex-fiance John Peake, appeared via video link when he admitted murder, as Ms Eastwood’s mother, sister and Mr Peake watched from the public gallery.
Defence barrister Charles Miskin QC said: “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.”
Mr Miskin added: “There was an argument in that context 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, and as a result of that she died.”
He continued: “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 added: “He panicked afterwards and buried her in an area of which he had some knowledge.
“He entirely accepts that he tried, wholly dishonestly, to mislead others in the afternoon after the killing.
“He is absolutely horrified about what happened and is deeply sorry, not for himself, but for all the others who are victims of this crime.”
The defendant, the court also heard, had “never been in any sort of trouble” prior to murdering Ms Eastwood.
Mr Stirling, of Stoke-on-Trent, admitted killing the victim between 26 July and 5 August.
Jonas Hankin QC, prosecuting, said that two days before the murder Mr Stirling had researched methods on how to “kill oneself”.
He added: “There were searches made on a laptop, two days before the killing.
“The subject matter appears to relate to research into methods by which one might kill oneself, in particular using carbon monoxide, or involving suffocation and involving ingestion of poison, specifically anti-freeze.”
Mr Hankin added Mr Stirling had a “history of mental health problems”.
Mr Stirling was remanded in custody and will be sentenced at Stafford crown court in December.
Additional reporting by agencies