Samantha Mickleburgh | Source: Facebook/Surrey Heath Beat
A 61-year-old man is found guilty after his 54-year-old ex-fiancée was found dead in their hotel room.
In the quiet elegance of a luxury hotel, the final act of kindness by a man’s ex-fiancée was met with unimaginable violence—a tragedy that has now been brought to justice, but not without leaving a deep and lasting wound.
A 61-year-old man, James Cartwright, has been found guilty of murdering and raping his ex-fiancée, Samantha Mickleburgh, 54, during what was supposed to be a final farewell at a luxury Surrey hotel.
Cartwright was found guilty by a unanimous jury at Guildford Crown Court, but was acquitted of one count of controlling or coercive behavior, Metro reported. His sentencing is scheduled for August 8, and he now faces life imprisonment.
Mickleburgh, a mother of two from Axminster, Devon, was found dead on April 14, 2024, in the room they shared at the five-star Pennyhill Park Hotel in Bagshot.
Evidence presented by the prosecution showed that Cartwright deleted photos of Mickleburgh from her phone at 1:22 a.m., leading investigators to conclude that she was likely dead by 1:30 a.m., the Telegraph reported.
A view of the PennyHill Park Hotel, from a post dated March 7, 2025 | Source: Instagram/pennyhill_park
The court heard that she had reluctantly agreed to spend a night with Cartwright to celebrate his 60th birthday, despite having ended their relationship.
His daughter, Jessica Mickleburgh, said Cartwright had pressured her mother to attend: “He sent her a lot of messages calling her cruel for not wanting to spend that time with him.” His son, Alexander Mickleburgh, added : “He made it clear it was the last time she would see him.”
According to Devon Live, Mickleburgh agreed to the dinner and stay because “I didn’t want him to feel lonely.” The evening included a six-course tasting menu at the hotel’s Michelin-starred Latymer restaurant.
Elena Jabri, a waitress who served the couple, stated that at the beginning of the dinner, Mickleburgh appeared lively and chatty, but her demeanor abruptly changed when she began to appear unwell. “It seemed extremely sudden to me. I can’t say how long it lasted, but it seemed very strange to me,” the waitress added .
Jabri also noted that, around the third course, Mickleburgh appeared unsteady on his feet and was holding onto the sofa for support. The couple soon left and returned to their room by 10:30 p.m., according to security camera footage, the last time Mickleburgh was seen alive.
Cartwright later claimed he woke up the next morning to find Mickleburgh dead beside him, calling the emergency services at 8:30 a.m. But prosecutor Louise Oakley told the court: “That was a lie. It is most likely that he killed her in the early hours of the morning with his own hands by applying manual pressure around her neck, extinguishing her life.”
The autopsy reportedly revealed signs of strangulation. The court also heard that Cartwright, who had another girlfriend at the time and was active on the dating app Bumble, had allegedly told other women that his dinner with Mickleburgh had “the feel of a final farewell.”
Jurors seated in the jury box | Source: Getty Images
In a police interview following her arrest on April 19, 2024, Cartwright told Surrey Police that Mickleburgh seemed animated on the way to the hotel room and that the two had consensual sex before falling asleep. Prosecutors said this claim was inconsistent with both the physical evidence and her digital records, the BBC reported.
In a statement released by Surrey Police, Mickleburgh’s family said : “As a family, we are relieved that this has finally come to an end. That the defendant has been seen for what he truly is, a rapist and a murderer. He is no longer free to harm or control any more women,” adding:
“Unfortunately, it was too late for our beloved daughter, mother, sister, and friend. She was truly the best of us, the kindest light in all our lives, and the hole she’s left is so grave that we’ll likely never escape it.”
The family has also asked for privacy as they continue to grieve. The Pennyhill Park Hotel, the site of the murder , is known for its spa retreats and luxury getaways.
While no sentence can undo the pain inflicted or fill the void left by the 54-year-old woman’s death, her family’s hope for closure has only just begun. While Cartwright awaits sentencing, Mickleburgh’s legacy of strength, kindness, and grace lives on in the memories of those who loved her and in the justice that has been served in her name.
