The body of a midwife was found in a shallow grave, wrapped in a duvet cover and with tape across her eyes and face, a court has heard.

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

Michael Stirling, 32, of Bucknall, Stoke-on-Trent, appeared at Stafford crown court on Wednesday charged with her murder.

Appearing from HMP Dovegate via video-link, he spoke only to confirm his name, age and nationality and that he understood the proceedings.

Stirling, the brother-in-law of Eastwood’s ex-fiance, John Peake, is accused of murdering the midwife between 26 July and 5 August in Baddeley Green, Stoke.

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

A preliminary postmortem examination did not reveal any gunshot, stab or penetrating wounds, and further analysis of neck bones was due to be carried out, the court was told.

The defence barrister Samina Rashid made no application for bail and Stirling was not required to enter any plea. He was remanded in custody to appear at Northampton crown court for a plea hearing on 5 October. The trial was provisionally scheduled to begin on 4 February next year.

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

On Monday Eastwood’s younger sister, Gemma, visited her sibling’s home to take away some of the many flowers and keepsakes left by NHS colleagues, neighbours and members of the public.

In a statement issued through Staffordshire police, the family said: “We would like to say thank you to all the people who followed Samantha’s story and tried their best to help.”