Man jailed for life for murdering ex-fiancee at luxury Surrey hotel

James Cartwright, 61, found guilty last month of raping and strangling Samantha Mickleburgh, 54, at his birthday dinner

A man who raped and strangled his former fiancee to death at his 60th birthday dinner at a luxury hotel in Surrey last year has been jailed for life.

James Cartwright, 61, was found guilty of the rape and murder of Samantha Mickleburgh, 54, by a jury last month. He had attacked his former partner at the hotel after Mickleburgh conceded to attending a birthday meetup as a gesture of kindness, prosecutors said. They said he then launched a vicious and murderous attack" and tried to cover up the killing, telling police Mickleburgh had died after falling out of bed.