Woman who died at luxury hotel 'fell asleep at dinner table', court told

Irish Daily Mirror

15-07-2025

A woman who died while celebrating her ex-fiance's birthday at a luxury hotel was seen suddenly falling asleep during dinner, a jury was told.
Samantha Mickleburgh, from Axminster, Devon, was found dead at the Pennyhill Park Hotel in Bagshot, Surrey, on the morning of April 14 last year.
The 54-year-old mother of two had arranged to stay in a twin room with her ex-fiance, James Cartwright, the night prior because she "didn't want him to feel lonely" on his birthday.
That evening, the pair had booked a six-course tasting menu at the hotel's Michelin-starred The Latymer restaurant – but they abruptly left half-way through the meal after Ms Mickelburgh began falling asleep at the dinner table, a trial at Guildford Crown Court heard on Monday.
James Cartwright, 61, of no fixed address, is standing trial accused of raping and murdering Ms Mickleburgh between April 12 and April 14 last year.
He also denies one count of controlling and coercive behaviour between May 1 2022 and April 14 2024.
Elena Jabri, who worked as a waitress at The Latymer on the night of April 13 2024, told jurors she saw the pair leave the restaurant and that Ms Mickleburg was "struggling to stand", with Cartwright physically supporting her.
"It seemed extremely sudden to me," Ms Jabri said, adding Ms Mickleburgh had appeared "very bubbly, chatty, and excited" on arrival at the restaurant.
"I cannot tell how long it was but I thought it was very weird."
During the dinner, Ms Jabri said she and other staff noticed a sudden change in Ms Mickleburgh's behaviour at around the time they served the third course of the meal.
"She was clinging to the sofa and her eyes were closing. It seemed they just kept closing," she told jurors.
"I asked if everything was okay with the food and she said she was just very full.
"I was asked by the gentleman (Cartwright) to just leave the table and give them some time, so I just left.
"He seemed annoyed that I was at the table at that time," Ms Jabri added.
Asked whether it was normal behaviour for guests to leave The Latymer mid-course, Ms Jabri replied: "No. It's a very expensive meal that was not refundable, so I had never really seen it before."
At the time, Ms Jabri informed reception staff about the pair's sudden departure from The Latymer.
Reception staff then called the room where Ms Mickleburgh and Cartwright were staying to ask if there was a problem with the food, the court heard.
Cartwright answered the call at 10.55pm saying that the food was "okay" and that they would not be returning to the restaurant, jurors were told.
Cartwright called 999 at about 8.30am on April 14 claiming he had discovered the lifeless body of Ms Mickleburgh lying next to him in bed.
James Pettitt, guest relations manager at Pennyhill Park Hotel, told jurors on Monday he and the ambulance crew found Cartwright "completely naked" and screaming in a "loud and exaggerated" way when they entered the room.
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.
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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'."
At that point, Mr Pettitt made a waving gesture to the court, prompting the prosecutor Louise Oakley to ask: "He physically waved the ambulance goodbye?"
To which 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 Pettitt described as "a diamond bracelet or necklace", he told jurors.
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."
The trial continues.