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| Man who murdered ex-fiancee in luxury Bagshot hotel jailed for life | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| James Cartwright, 61, was found guilty following a three and a half-week trial at Guildford Crown Court | James Cartwright, 61, was found guilty following a three and a half-week trial at Guildford Crown Court |
| A man who raped and murdered his former fiancee at a luxury hotel in Surrey has been jailed for life. | A man who raped and murdered his former fiancee at a luxury hotel in Surrey 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, and only agreed to share a twin room because she "didn't want him to feel lonely", a jury was told. | The mother-of-two, from Axminster in Devon, had arranged to celebrate Cartwright's 60th birthday with him, and only agreed to share a twin room because she "didn't want him to feel lonely", a jury was told. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 'Vicious and murderous attack' | |
| Ms Mickleburgh's family called Cartwright an "evil, controlling, manipulative predator". | |
| Sentencing him on Friday, Mr Justice Murray said: "Samantha's 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. | |
| After murdering her, he phoned 999 the next morning claiming 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. | A jury unanimously convicted him of murder and rape but acquitted him of controlling or coercive behaviour. |
| Prosecutor Louise Oakley argued that during his and Ms Mickleburgh's relationship, Cartwright's conduct was "cruel, repressive and overbearing". | |
| The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) previously described Cartwright as having taken advantage of Ms Mickleburgh's kindness, launching a "vicious and murderous attack". | 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". | 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". |
| Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook, and on X. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. | Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook, and on X. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. |