Man accused of murdering midwife Samantha Eastwood ‘attacked in jail by fellow prisoner’

The man accused of murdering midwife Samantha Eastwood has reportedly been attacked while behind bars.

Michael Stirling was given a ‘proper beating’ by a fellow inmate at Dovegate jail in Staffordshire on Tuesday, according to The Sun.

The 32-year-old was this week charged with murdering Royal Stoke Hospital worker Ms Eastwood, whose body was found in a shallow grave on Saturday.

A source told The Sun that Stirling was ‘terrified’ after his arrest, adding: ‘A prisoner came to his cell and attacked him.’

Stirling, the brother-in-law of Ms Eastwood’s ex-fiance, was reportedly left cut and bruised after the confrontation, which came before his scheduled court appearance.

A Staffordshire Police spokesperson confirmed that he appeared later than usual, saying: ‘The defendant hasn’t arrived at court at the specified time because there has been a problem.

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‘We are not sure what it is but it has held up proceedings. He had been due to attend in person.’

Jail managers Serco have confirmed that Stirling has now been moved to another prison.

The body Ms Eastwood, 28, was discovered in a rural area near Caverswall, Staffordshire, on Saturday – eight days after going missing.

Stirling, is accused of murdering the midwife between July 26 and August 5 at Baddeley Green, Stoke.

Jonas Hankin QC, prosecuting, told the court the ongoing investigation into the midwife’s death was “complex” and meant a provisional trial date early in 2019 was unlikely to remain in place.

The court heard that Miss Eastwood had been found in a shallow grave, with masking tape around her face and eyes, and had been wrapped inside a single duvet cover.

A preliminary post-mortem examination did not reveal any gunshot, stab or penetrating wounds, and further analysis of neck bones was due to be carried out, Judge Michael Challinor QC was also told.

Stirling’s trial date was provisionally set for February 4 next year, but the judge told him that the complexities of the case meant that date was unlikely to remain fixed.

Two other men, aged 28 and 60, who were arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender, remain on conditional police bail while inquiries continue.