Pic-1:The body of midwife Samatha Eastwood was discovered in a rural area near Caverswall, Staffordshire, earlier this year ( PA/wp )
Pic-2:Michael Stirling pleaded guilty at Northampton Crown Court to murdering midwife Samantha Eastwood (Staffordshire Police/PA)
Crime reporter(wp/es):
A man has admitted murdering midwife Samantha Eastwood in a bout of "intense rage" after having a "long-standing affair" with her.
Michael Stirling, the brother-in-law of Ms Eastwood's ex John Peake, pleaded guilty to murder at Northampton Crown Court on Monday.
The court heard he strangled 28-year-old Ms Eastwood during a confrontation at her home in Staffordshire, before burying her in a shallow grave.
His barrister, Charles Miskin, told the court: "This was not a pre-meditated act. The context of the killing was a background of growing tension arising from a longstanding, but not particularly intense affair."
Ms Eastwood had last been seen leaving Royal Stoke University Hospital on July 27 after a night shift.
Mr Miskin said that on the afternoon of the killing, "various things were said" between the two "which led to him becoming very angry".
He added: "There was an argument in that context and that led to him being very angry.
"After a struggle and while she was on the floor, he put his hands over her throat, her mouth and nose, and as a result of that she died."
Mr Miskin said: "During his intense rage, he originally intended to cause her really serious bodily harm, but matters escalated and he carried out the intention to kill her."
"He panicked afterwards and buried her in an area of which he had some knowledge.
"He entirely accepts that he tried, wholly dishonestly, to mislead others in the afternoon after the killing.
"He is absolutely horrified about what happened and is deeply sorry, not for himself, but for all the others who are victims of this crime."
Stirling, who had no previous convictions, appeared via video link in court on Monday.
He was sporting a full beard, sat at a table and wearing a dark grey t-shirt. Ms Eastwood's mother, sister, and Mr Peake watched from the public gallery.
Stirling, 32, of Stoke-on-Trent, will be sentenced at Stafford Crown Court on December 3.
Ms Eastwood's body was discovered in a rural area near Caverswall, Staffordshire, wrapped in a duvet and with tape around her eyes and face.
She had been missing for eight days.
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