Midwife murder suspect Michael Stirling ‘left cowering in his jail cell’ after being battered while on remand.
The alleged attack at HMP Dovegate, near Uttoxeter, came hours before he appeared in court charged with killing 28-year-old Samantha Eastwood.
According to The Sun’s sources, the 32-year-old, of Gratton Road, Bucknall, suffered cuts and bruises in Tuesday’s incident and was moved to another part of the jail soon after.
Stirling – the brother-in-law of Samantha’s ex-fiance – later appeared at Stafford Crown Court via videolink yesterday.
He was remanded in custody to appear at Northampton Crown Court on October 5 for a plea and case management hearing. A provisional trial date has been set for next February.
The Ministry of Justice has declined to comment on the claims.
Samantha, of Greenside Avenue, Baddeley Green, was last seen in uniform leaving work at Royal Stoke University Hospital on the morning of July 27.
She was reported missing later that day when she failed to turn up for a night shift.
Stirling was arrested on suspicion of murder when Samantha’s body was found eight days later on rural land near Caverswall on Saturday (August 4).
More than £10,000 has now been collected on a fund-raising page set up to help Ms Eastwood’s family with funeral costs.
