Devon woman's alleged murderer posted 'heartbroken' tribute, court hears
James Cartwright stands trial at Guildford Crown Court following the death of his ex-fiance in a Surrey hotel last April
A man who allegedly murdered his ex-fiancee after she arranged to celebrate his 60th birthday with him at a luxury hotel posted on Facebook about his heartbreak and devastation, a court has heard.
Samantha Mickleburgh, from Axminster in Devon, was found dead at the Pennyhill Park Hotel in Bagshot, Surrey, on the morning of April 14 last year.
James Cartwright, 61, of no fixed address, is standing trial at Guildford Crown Court 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.
During the trial on Friday, prosecutor Louise Oakley read out a Facebook post written by Cartwright on April 15 2024.
It said: "I am so heartbroken and devastated at the very sudden and unexpected loss of my gorgeous, kind, caring, and loving partner Samantha during the night of my birthday at Pennyhill Park Hotel in Bagshot, Surrey, after such a wonderful and happy evening."
He said "I simply do not have the words" and referred to how his "extreme grief" was shared by Ms Mickleburgh's close family members.
Cartwright wrote about how family, friends and colleagues, past and present, would all be "as shocked and sad as I am at her sudden passing".
He wrote: "I miss you so much sweetheart and have no idea how I'm going to live without you. You have left such an enormous hole in all our lives.
"Rest in peace my darling. I love you so very much and always will."
Earlier this week jurors were told that 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.
"That was a lie," Ms Oakley said.
"He had most likely killed her in the early hours of April 14 2024 with his own bare hands applying manual pressure around her neck, extinguishing her life."
She added: "There were only two people in this room - and she couldn't have and didn't strangle herself."
The 54-year-old mother of two had arranged to stay in a twin room with Cartwright because she "didn't want him to feel lonely" on his birthday, the jury was told.
The court heard Ms Mickleburgh had ended her relationship with Cartwright in February 2024.
Following their break-up, Cartwright had continued to pursue Ms Mickleburgh, attending her address unexpectedly and uninvited, and "bombarding her" with messages and calls, Ms Oakley said.
"He had started to lose control of his relationship with Samantha because of his own controlling and coercive ways," she added.
The trial continues.