Man who murdered ex-fiancee in luxury hotel jailed

James Cartwright, 61, was found guilty following a three and a half-week trial at Guildford Crown Court

A man who raped and strangled to death his former fiancee at a luxury Surrey hotel has been jailed for life.

James Cartwright, 61, killed Samantha Mickleburgh, 54, at the five-star Pennyhill Park Hotel in Bagshot last April.

The mother-of-two, from Axminster in Devon, had arranged to celebrate Cartwright's 60th birthday with him, but only agreed to go because she believed he had nobody else to go with.

Cartwright was sentenced to a minimum of 28 years in prison after he was found guilty of rape and murder at a trial at Guildford Crown Court.

Throughout the investigation and trial, Cartwright maintained his innocence, despite not providing any other explanation for her fatal injuries, according to Surrey Police.

'Vicious and murderous attack'

Ms Mickleburgh's family called Cartwright, of no fixed address, an "evil, controlling, manipulative predator".

Sentencing him on Friday, Mr Justice Murray said her "family suffer a grief that those who have not experienced it cannot imagine. It lies beyond words to fully describe."

Ms Mickleburgh, who loved ones called a "champagne girl" who lit up every room she walked into, had previously been engaged to Cartwright.

Before calling an ambulance the morning after he had killed her, Cartwright placed an engagement ring on her left ring finger to make it look like they had become re-engaged the night before, the court heard.

He also "staged the hotel room" to make it seem as though they had had consensual sex and then claimed he had discovered her dead beside him in bed.

Samantha Mickleburgh was found dead at a hotel in Bagshot, Surrey, on 14 April 2024

A jury unanimously convicted him of murder and rape but acquitted him of controlling or coercive behaviour.

But prosecutor Louise Oakley argued that during his and Ms Mickleburgh's relationship, Cartwright's conduct was "cruel, repressive and overbearing".

Tracey Carter, one of Ms Mickleburgh's sisters, said: "Our family welcomed you into homes and hearts and you violated that trust and kindness.

"Did you feel proud of yourself when you lied to my father, saying that Sam had died in her sleep knowing full well the horror that you had put her through?

"You have caused an indescribable amount of pain and suffering to our family but know this: we are strong and you cannot break us, you cannot take Sam from us."

Cartwright recently received a provisional cancer diagnosis, the court heard

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) previously described Cartwright as having taken advantage of Ms Mickleburgh's kindness, launching a "vicious and murderous attack".

Moses Koroma, from the CPS, said the jury "saw straight through Cartwright's claims that this had all resulted from her falling out of bed".

Cartwright's defence, Martin Rutherford KC, said he had recently received a provisional diagnosis of cancer.