Found Deceased UK - Samantha Eastwood, 28, Stoke-on-Trent, 27 July 2018 *Arrest*

[overthemoon]

SE apparently told a colleague she’d been threatened and to report it if she didn’t turn up to work - which is why police were involved so quickly.

‘Brother-in-law’ charged over murder of midwife Samantha Eastwood | Daily Mail Online

That must have been the two weeks preceding her disappearance - MS was still seen working on her garden “2 weeks ago”. If you feel threatened by a person, you won’t allow him to come near your person or property. Unless, for whatever reason, he had free access to her property and continued to use the privilege.

 

[HayLouise]

Brother-in-law of Samantha Eastwood’s ex-fiancé last night charged with her murder, he is due in court today. Read:

Dan Sales on Twitter

Suspect held in 'midwife murder' is part of her ex's family

 

[HayLouise]

Police set to release Samantha Eastwood's cause of death as murder investigation continues

‘Police are today expected to release the results of a post-mortem revealing how Samantha Eastwood died as a man is due to appear in court charged with her murder.’

Police set to release Sam's cause of death as murder investigation continues

 

[Alyce]

Have the police charged him sooner than the time they had? I’m thinking they must be absolutely certain if they aren’t using all the time they have available to investigate- or he confessed early?

Yes much sooner. By my calculations they questioned him for 48 hours ( possibly a little less ) before charging.
As WalnutWhip said, must have a decent amount of evidence against him.

 

[Alyce]

SE apparently told a colleague she’d been threatened and to report it if she didn’t turn up to work - which is why police were involved so quickly.

‘Brother-in-law’ charged over murder of midwife Samantha Eastwood | Daily Mail Online

That sounds awful. How frightening for SE and no wonder her colleagues reacted so swiftly.
Hard to imagine what he ( if it was him ) was threatening her about that could end in murder.

 

[chimpface]

That sounds awful. How frightening for SE and no wonder her colleagues reacted so swiftly.
Hard to imagine what he ( if it was him ) was threatening her about that could end in murder.

Awful.

I think we'll find out that Samantha and the BIL were involved in some way.

Whether they had an affair or he made a pass at her and she was threatening to tell his wife or JP.

 

[Arose]

"Whether they had an affair or he made a pass at her and she was threatening to tell his wife or JP"

The latter, most likely.

 

[TheTruthWillOut]

Well if it is true she told a colleague to report it if she didn't turn up to work it would explain the Police call at 19:20 and the media surprise at this.

Hopefully it means they have a tonne of evidence and almost caught him red handed if SE's body was taken up to Tick Hill between 9-11PM on the 27th.

It would explain how quickly Police focused on the BIL's house and how extra quiet the Police have been in this case?

 

[Alyce]

Live feed from Magistrates Court today. Hearing just about to start

Court updates: Man, 32, appears before magistrates charged with midwife's murder

 

[Alyce]

09:36
Local and national media in court
Local and national media have filled the public gallery in court two at North Staffordshire Justice Centre as they await the appearance of Michael Stirling.Photographers and TV crews are outside the building waiting for Stirling to arrive.
09:48
The public gallery is packed
There are no more spaces in the public gallery meaning not all the media will be able to report the proceedings.
09:49
StokeonTrentLive are the only media inside the court room
StokeonTrentLive are the only media inside the court room. The other press and broadcast journalists are in the public gallery.




Court updates: Man, 32, appears before magistrates charged with midwife's murder

 

[Alyce]

09:58
Experienced prosecutor in court
The prosecutor will be Lynn Warrington.
10:04
Defendant's representative revealed
Samina Rashid will be representing Stirling.

10:04
The case is starting
Magistrates have entered the court.
10:06
Defendant - wearing sombre grey jumper - brought into the courtroom
Michael Stirling has been brought into the courtroom. He is wearing a sombre grey jumper.
10:07
Stirling confirms age, address and date of birth
He gave his name as Michael Stirling, his address at Gratton Road, Bucknall, and his date of birth as May 30 1986.
10:08
The charge is heard
The court has heard he has been charged with murdering Samantha Eastwood at Baddeley Green between July 26 and August 5.
No indication of plea was given.
10:09
Case sent to crown court
The case has been sent to Stafford Crown Court where Stirling will appear for a preliminary hearing via a video link from custody on Wednesday (August 8).



Court updates: Man, 32, appears before magistrates charged with midwife's murder

 

[suzyjackson]

That must have been the two weeks preceding her disappearance - MS was still seen working on her garden “2 weeks ago”. If you feel threatened by a person, you won’t allow him to come near your person or property. Unless, for whatever reason, he had free access to her property and continued to use the privilege.

It could be that she felt so threatened by him that she was too afraid to try and stop him from coming to her house. These kind of situations aren't always straight forward imo but whatever happened it must have been serious enough for her to mention to the colleague and for the colleague to know that she wasn't just joking around

JMO

 

[Alyce]

10:10
Stirling is led away
The dock officers have placed handcuffs on Stirling and taken him down to the cells.


10:10
The brief hearing has ended
The media have left the court room.

Court updates: Man, 32, appears before magistrates charged with midwife's murder

 

[suzyjackson]

09:58
Experienced prosecutor in court
The prosecutor will be Lynn Warrington.
10:04
Defendant's representative revealed
Samina Rashid will be representing Stirling.

10:04
The case is starting
Magistrates have entered the court.
10:06
Defendant - wearing sombre grey jumper - brought into the courtroom
Michael Stirling has been brought into the courtroom. He is wearing a sombre grey jumper.
10:07
Stirling confirms age, address and date of birth
He gave his name as Michael Stirling, his address at Gratton Road, Bucknall, and his date of birth as May 30 1986.
10:08
The charge is heard
The court has heard he has been charged with murdering Samantha Eastwood at Baddeley Green between July 26 and August 5.
No indication of plea was given.
10:09
Case sent to crown court
The case has been sent to Stafford Crown Court where Stirling will appear for a preliminary hearing via a video link from custody on Wednesday (August 8).

Does a murder charge mean that the evidence is so strong that the police are sure they can get a conviction for that rather than manslaughter?

 

[Alyce]

Stirling confirms age, address and date of birth
He gave his name as Michael Stirling, his address at Gratton Road, Bucknall, and his date of birth as May 30 1986.

Wonder if this is a typo by the journo.....his address is not Gratton Rd.

 

[Sarahlou]

Does a murder charge mean that the evidence is so strong that the police are sure they can get a conviction for that rather than manslaughter?

Yes

 

[Alyce]

Does a murder charge mean that the evidence is so strong that the police are sure they can get a conviction for that rather than manslaughter?

Yes, I would say so.

 

[jiminy]

Well done, Samantha, for making sure they knew who to look at if anything happened to you. I'm just sorry that didn't save you.

 

[suzyjackson]

Yes, I would say so.

So, thinking aloud, they must have found some eveidence of planning rather than some kind of confrontation gone wrong in the heat of the moment with unintended consequences. Was the 3rd person in on it from the start then I wonder or was he called in a panic to help out. I'm interested in how the help of the 3rd person came about

 

[TheTruthWillOut]

Stirling confirms age, address and date of birth
He gave his name as Michael Stirling, his address at Gratton Road, Bucknall, and his date of birth as May 30 1986.

Wonder if this is a typo by the journo.....his address is not Gratton Rd.

BBC are reporting it too. I don't think it significant as it is just a given address for the records? I'm still more intrigued by the van being removed from the house on the opposite side of Gratton road.....