Man Jailed For Killing Staffs Midwive
3 December 2018, 17:24 | Updated: 3 December 2018, 17:54
Michael Stirling from Stoke killed his lover Samantha Eastwood in a "rage" at her home in the summer.
The "cruel" killer of a much-loved midwife comforted his victim's sister hours after burying her sibling's body in a shallow grave.
Michael Stirling admitted murdering lover Samantha Eastwood, with whom he had been having a three-year affair, after suffocating and strangling the 28-year-old at her home.
32 year old Stirling, was the brother-in-law of the health worker's ex-fiancee, John Peake, and was well-known by her immediate family and friends.
Miss Eastwood, who worked at Royal Stoke University Hospital, was reported missing by colleagues after finishing a night shift on July 27.
Her body was found eight days later by police searching an overgrown former quarry at Caverswall, wrapped in a duvet Stirling had taken from her home, her eyes and face covered in tape.
On the day Stirling was jailed for life at Stafford Crown Court, the detective who led the investigation into her disappearance and murder described the killer as "cold", "callous" and remorseless.
Detective Inspector Dan Ison, who led the murder investigation, said that just hours after burying Miss Eastwood, Stirling went back to her home where concerned family had gathered to offer comfort.
Gemma Eastwood, Samantha's younger sister, was among those at the house, with police revealing Stirling "hugged" her - while knowing full well Miss Eastwood was already dead.
The day after the killing, he used Samantha's mobile phone to send text messages to family members giving false hope she was still alive and had simply left home for some "me time".
Samantha's sister Gemma said she was greatly missed.
