Man appears in court over murder in Sticker near St Austell
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The Independent
10 minutes ago
- The Independent
Family of woman murdered by ex-fiance say he is ‘no longer free to harm women'
The family of a woman who was murdered by her ex-fiance at a luxury Surrey hotel have expressed their relief that he is 'no longer free to harm' other women, as they paid tribute to her as 'the kindest light in all our lives'. James Cartwright, 61, stood trial at Guildford Crown Court accused of killing Samantha Mickleburgh, 54, whose body was found at the five-star Pennyhill Park Hotel in Bagshot on April 14 last year. The mother-of-two, from Axminster in Devon, had agreed to stay in a twin room with Cartwright because she 'didn't want him to feel lonely' on his birthday, the jury was told. He phoned 999 at about 8.30am the next morning claiming he had discovered her dead beside him in bed. A jury unanimously convicted him on Thursday, after one afternoon of deliberation, of murder and rape between April 12 and April 14 last year, but acquitted him of controlling and coercive behaviour between May 1 2022 and April 14 2024. In a statement through Surrey Police, Ms Mickleburgh's family said: '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.' Members of her family cried in court after the verdicts were read out and hugged each other after the hearing. Mr Justice Murray set the sentencing date for August 8 and told the defendant: 'You have been found guilty of the murder and rape of Samantha Mickleburgh. 'You are remanded in custody to await the sentencing hearing. 'You may now go down.' Cartwright, who did not react as the jury gave its verdicts, told the judge 'thank you' before leaving the dock. Giving evidence during the trial, Cartwright claimed Ms Mickleburgh died after falling out of bed. The Crown Prosecution Service said the claims were part of his 'web of lies'. 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.' Surrey Police said Cartwright 'has never admitted responsibility or shown any remorse' for the attack. Detective Inspector Debbie Birch said: '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.' Cartwright also told jurors during the trial that Ms Mickleburgh owed him about £100,000 at the time of her death, as she had borrowed money to help renovate a property she bought in early 2023. They lived together and got engaged later that year, when Cartwright proposed 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 after 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 on to 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. Although they continued to live together until February 2024 and remained physically intimate, he said he no longer trusted her. About 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'. After their separation, Cartwright began speaking to other women on the dating app Bumble, and told one that the forthcoming 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.
Daily Mail
11 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Body of man murdered in case of mistaken identity lay undiscovered for weeks despite anonymous tip-offs to police
The body of a man who was murdered in a case of mistaken identity lay undiscovered for weeks despite police being tipped off about it numerous times. Michael Wheeler, 37, was brutally attacked and killed by Mark Roberts and David Garland on August 24 last year after believing he was a convicted paedophile. He was brutally attacked at Roberts's flat in Yeovil in the early hours of the morning , suffering multiple injuries, including 11 skull and facial fractures. Mr Wheeler's body was later found in a derelict caravan on farmland in Yarlington on September 25 last year. On the day of his death, Avon and Somerset Police had received an anonymous call to say someone had been heard shouting 'call the police' and sent officers to a flat in Yeovil where a man refused to let them in. Three weeks later, the force received another anonymous tip-off to say there was a dead body at the same address. The force carried out further inquiries but were unable to locate a body at the time. Details of the two tip offs were included in a report published by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) on deaths following police contact. The IOPC report said: 'Police received an anonymous call to a residential address reporting that a man had been heard shouting 'call the police'. 'An officer attended and spoke to the man outside of the property who said he lived at the address but refused to allow the officer inside. 'Just over three weeks later, police received anonymous information about a dead body in the same address that the officer had attended. 'The information suggested the man had been murdered two or three weeks before. Inquiries were carried out, but police were unable to locate a body. 'Several arrests were made, including the man who lived at the address that was initially visited by the police officer. A short time after the arrests a body of a man was found.' The IOPC investigated the decisions made by the sergeant who responded to the initial call. A spokesperson said: 'We began an independent investigation into the decisions and actions of a police sergeant in relation to his attendance at a residential address on August 24 2024. 'It followed a mandatory conduct referral from Avon and Somerset received on September 20. Our investigation concluded in March and we are in the process of informing all parties of the outcome.' Mr Wheeler, 37, had been friends with all five but his relationship with Roberts, to whom he owed £100, went downhill when the others saw an article about a man - also named Michael Wheeler - who was jailed in 2003 after admitting grooming and sexually abusing two 13-year-old girls. They were not the same person and during the trial, prosecuting counsel, David Elias, KC, made it clear the victim had no convictions for child sexual offences. One of the last sightings of him was on CCTV at a petrol station just a few hours before his death. Mr Wheeler's mother was suffering from a terminal illness at the time of her son's disappearance and is said to have spent her last months under the shadow of his untimely death, before dying before the case came to court. The victim leaves a young daughter, ex-wife and sister.
The Sun
11 minutes ago
- The Sun
Horrifying moment ‘rich kid' driver knocks over scooter rider & then reverses 4×4 truck into him in road rage
THIS is the horrifying moment a wealthy businessman's son mowed down an elderly scooter rider before deliberately reversing his 4x4 into him in a shocking road rage attack. Sickening CCTV footage shows Manan Anand – dubbed a 'rich kid' locally – speeding on the wrong side of the road in Kashmir, India. 4 4 4 4 The 20-year-old then slams into Kamalkant Dutta, 68, at around 1.30pm on Sunday. The pensioner is seen being flung to the ground as Anand, son of prominent businessman Rajinder Anand, overtakes at high speed. But instead of rushing to help, the driver coldly throws his vehicle into reverse and smashes into the OAP a second time, knocking him onto his back where he cracks his head on the tarmac. Anand then casually steps out of the 4WD alongside a passenger, walks over to the injured Dutta. But moments later, he climbs back into the car and drives off, leaving the pensioner fighting for his life. Horrified bystanders rushed Dutta to GMC Jammu hospital, where he remains in critical condition. Police confirmed they have since seized the vehicle and detained Anand's father for questioning. But despite multiple raids over the past couple of days, Anand himself has gone on the run. Police said the crash happened near Allora Textiles in Jammu, when a Mahindra Thar being "driven in a rash and negligent manner" hit a scooter coming from the opposite direction. A spokesperson added: "The scooty, which was coming from the opposite direction, was struck by the Thar, resulting in injuries to the rider. Dramatic moment idiot driver speeds off road, spins out of control and crashes into police car "The injured individual was shifted to GMC Jammu by passers-by, while the Thar driver fled from the spot." Cops have launched a manhunt to track down the fugitive driver. It comes after a young comedian died in a horror crash after a retired judge allegedly mowed her down while drunk — with a naked woman sitting on his lap. Thaís Bonatti, 30, was riding her bicycle to work at a restaurant in Araçatuba, Brazil, when Fernando Augusto Fontes Rodrigues Júnior, 61, allegedly slammed his Ford Ranger pickup into her. The impact left Bonatti with devastating injuries, including a fractured pelvis and a traumatic brain injury, last Thursday morning. She was rushed to hospital, but medics were unable to save her. According to a police report, Rodrigues — a former civil court judge now working as a lawyer — had left a nightclub shortly before the crash with a woman believed to be a sex worker. Surveillance footage allegedly showed the woman naked and trying to climb off his lap as the vehicle stopped near a supermarket. He was taken into custody and charged with manslaughter, but was released the following day after posting bail of 40,000 Brazilian reais (around $7,150).
