A man has been found guilty of raping and murdering his ex-fiancee at a five-star luxury hotel in Surrey.
James Cartwright, 61, was convicted of rape and murder by a jury at Guildford Crown Court, who also found him not guilty of controlling and coercive behaviour.
Samantha Mickleburgh, 54, was found dead in a twin room at the exclusive Pennyhill Park Hotel in Bagshot, Surrey, on the morning of April 14 last year.
The mother-of-two, from Axminster in Devon, had agreed to stay in a twin room with Cartwright – her former fiance – because she ‘didn’t want him to feel lonely’ on his birthday, the jury was told.
He phoned 999 at around 8.30am the next morning claiming he had discovered her dead beside him in bed.
On Thursday, a jury unanimously convicted him of murder and rape, but acquitted him of controlling or coercive behaviour.
During the trial, jurors were told that Cartwright had lent Ms Mickleburgh tens of thousands of pounds to help renovate a property she had bought in early 2023.
He claimed she owed him around £100,000 at the time of her death.
James Cartwright, 61, was convicted of raping and murdering his ex-fiancee Samantha Mickleburgh, 54,
Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Inspector Debbie Birch, said of Cartwright (pictured in police mugshot): ‘His control and possessiveness meant he couldn’t bear to let her go, despite having another girlfriend at the time’
Pictured: The five-star Pennyhill Park Hotel in Bagshot, Surrey where Ms Mickleburgh was found dead
The pair lived together and got engaged later that year, with Cartwright proposing on a beach during a holiday.
He told the court the proposal was met with ‘an immediate and emphatic yes’ and described their relationship at the time as ‘extremely amicable and friendly and loving’.
But the relationship began to break down when Cartwright discovered ‘highly sexual’ messages from Ms Mickleburgh’s former partner on her phone and later on her laptop.
On October 2, he confronted her and admitted standing in front of her car to stop her leaving their home following an argument.
‘She got into her car. It was clear that she was going to drive away,’ he told the court.
‘I pulled (the gate) to prevent the car from leaving.
‘She chose to drive through the gate and onto the road, so I had to put myself in front of the car to stop her leaving, because the gate hadn’t worked.’
Cartwright said he was embarrassed by his behaviour and later apologised.
Cartwright (pictured) called 999 at 8.30am on April 14 claiming he had found Ms Mickleburgh’s lifeless body next to him in bed at the hotel in Bagshot, jurors were told
Ms Mickleburgh was lying on the bed face up, and had dry blood around her nose
Although the pair continued to live together until February 2024 and remained physically intimate, he said he no longer trusted her.
Around two weeks before moving out, he found further messages between Ms Mickleburgh and her ex-partner but chose not to confront her.
Instead, he said he asked if they had been in touch, and she denied it – something he described as ‘almost terminal on my part’.
Following their separation, Cartwright began speaking to other women on the dating app Bumble and told one that the upcoming dinner with his ex had ‘the feel of a final farewell’.
Another message described it as ‘the last goodbye’.
Cartwright said he had not yet met the women in person and was only seeking ‘companionship’ and ‘friendship’.
The defendant, of no fixed address, told the court he had been married and divorced three times and had three adult daughters.
James Pettitt, guest relations manager at Pennyhill Park Hotel, previously told jurors he and the ambulance crew found Cartwright ‘completely naked’ and screaming in a ‘loud and exaggerated’ way when they entered the room.
Jurors were told that Cartwright had lent Ms Mickleburgh tens of thousands of pounds to help renovate a property she had bought in early 2023
Ms Mickleburgh was lying on the bed face up, and had dry blood around her nose, Mr Pettitt told the court.
He watched as the ambulance crew moved her from the bed to the floor, but decided not to begin CPR because it was apparent Ms Mickleburgh ‘had been dead a long time’, the court heard.
Her body was then put in a mortuary bag and carried to the ambulance van, Mr Pettitt said.
He told the court he saw Cartwright walk behind the bag, making ‘noises’ as though he was crying, but said he did not see any tears.
‘There was lots of heavy breathing and panting. It was just very loud, very focused on himself,’ Mr Pettitt told the court.
‘He (Cartwright) followed us around the hotel, behind Samantha. He was just sniffling.
‘It didn’t appear sincere.’
Cartwright then approached the back of the ambulance where Ms Mickleburgh had been placed and started ‘feeling the bag’, Mr Pettitt said.
‘I believe he assumed where the head was,’ he told jurors.
‘He bent over, kissed the bag, kissed his fingers and went ‘bye-bye’.’
After Mr Pettitt made a waving gesture to the court, prosecutor Louise Oakley asked: ‘He physically waved the ambulance goodbye?’
Mr Pettitt replied: ‘Yes – until the vehicle had left the premises.’
After Ms Mickleburgh’s body was taken away, Cartwright returned to the room and went through her handbag, from which he retrieved a car key and a piece of jewellery which Mr Pettit described as ‘a diamond bracelet or necklace’, he told jurors.
Cartwright, 61, of no fixed address, is on trial accused of raping and murdering Ms Mickleburgh between April 12 and April 14 last year. Pictured: Guildford Crown Court in Surrey
On seizing the jewellery, Cartwright reportedly told Mr Pettitt: ‘I’ll take care of that,’ the court was told.
Asked whether Cartwright had offered an explanation about what happened to Ms Mickleburgh, Mr Pettitt said: ‘He had mentioned that during the night, Samantha had rolled out of bed.
‘She had hit her head, supposedly, on the bedside table and in turn had a nose bleed.
‘He supposedly woke up to the sound of Samantha rolling out of bed and he helped her back on to the bed.
‘I was informed that he pinched her nose to stop the bleeding and that no first aid was required.’
Samantha’s family paid emotional tribute, saying in a statement: ‘We as a family, are relieved that this has finally come to an end. That the defendant has been seen for who he truly is, a rapist and a murderer. No longer free to harm or control any more women.
‘Unfortunately, it was too late for our beloved daughter, mother, sister and friend. She truly was the best of us, the kindest light in all our lives and the hole left behind is one of such severe magnitude we will likely never escape it.
‘Justice will not bring her back, but it has provided a form of closure on this dark chapter and security in the knowledge that James Cartwright will remain in the safest place for everyone.
‘Samantha wouldn’t want to be known as a victim. She would want to be known for her passion for life, her class and beautiful style, her honesty, integrity, strength and dedication to all who knew her.
‘We continue to ask for privacy as we navigate what it means to live in a world without Samantha and her incredible personality and love.’
Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Inspector Debbie Birch, said: ‘Through our extensive investigation into her death, we got to know the Samantha’s character well and what stood out was the overwhelming sense from her loved ones that she was an extremely kind, thoughtful and compassionate person.
‘She had felt guilty about ending her relationship with Cartwright and she had always followed through on her promises – this trip was meant to be one last kindness before she moved on with her life.
‘Tragically, Cartwright ensured that she was never able to do this. His control and possessiveness meant he couldn’t bear to let her go, despite having another girlfriend at the time.
‘He callously murdered her and has never admitted responsibility or shown any remorse, but the jury saw him for what he is and has found him guilty.’
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said James Cartwright launched a ‘vicious and murderous attack’ on his ex-fiancee after a jury found him guilty of her murder.
Moses Koroma, senior crown prosecutor for CPS South East, said: ‘It was clear from the forensic evidence that Samantha had been murdered. She was strangled and had a significant head injury, and the jury saw straight through Cartwright’s claims that this had all resulted from her falling out of bed.
‘As soon as he called 999, Cartwright started to weave his web of lies, telling police that Samantha had asked him to move back in and they were due to get married a few months later.
‘A very different picture emerged of their relationship from conversations Samantha had with friends and family about their life behind closed doors.
‘Worried that he would be alone for his 60th birthday, Samantha honoured her promise to spend the weekend with Cartwright.
‘He took advantage of this last selfless act with a vicious and murderous attack.’
