Children's writer Helen Bailey 'predicted her cesspit murder'
CHILDREN’S writer Helen Bailey predicted her fate when she joked that a cesspit at her home was “a good place to hide a body”, a court heard today.
Helen Bailey predicted her fate when she joked that a cesspit at her home
Her partner Ian Stewart is on trial accused of her murder after her corpse was found submerged in the sewage tank.
Her quip, made to her brother John three years before her death, was overheard by Stewart, the jury was told.
Stewart, 56, is accused of drugging and murdering the author before dumping her body in the pit in the grounds of their £1.5million home in Royston, Hertfordshire.
He also allegedly killed her beloved miniature dachshund Boris and threw his body in next to hers.
Ms Bailey was a highly successful author, worth about £4million
Ms Bailey, 51, and her dog may still have been alive when they were put in the cesspit, St Albans Crown Court has heard.
Her brother John told the jury today she made the joke to him after he had wondered if the tank – accessed by a manhole – was a wishing well.
After he was told its true function, “there was banter, I think instigated by Helen, that it would be a good place to hide a body”, said Mr Bailey.
Ms Bailey was a highly successful author, worth about £4million, the court has heard.
Her partner Ian Stewart is on trial accused of her murder
Stewart allegedly killed her to get his hands on her fortune.
He denies murder, fraud, perverting the course of justice and preventing a lawful burial.
Mr Bailey said that when he became worried about where his sister was, Stewart told him she had gone to her seaside home in Kent.
He said Stewart claimed the author had left a note saying: “I need some space. Gone to Broadstairs. Please don’t contact me.”
Her body was dumped in the pit in the grounds of their £1.5million home
But Stewart had allegedly already killed her on April 11.
He reported her missing four days later.
Her remains were not found in the cesspit until July 15.
Ms Bailey and her dog may still have been alive when they were put in the cesspit
Mr Bailey said his sister was “highly intelligent” but also “fragile”.
Tracey Stratton, a close friend of the author, later told the court that Ms Bailey, who was “extremely fond” of Stewart’s two grown-up sons, was expecting to marry him and was “very excited about the future”.
The trial continues.