'No need to search garage', murder suspect told police
AUTHOR Helen Bailey’s fiance told police there was no point in searching a garage where her body was later found, a court heard yesterday.
Royston Crow: Appeal for missing Helen Bailey
Officers went to look for computer devices at the couple’s home after the 51-year-old writer disappeared.
But her partner Ian Stewart allegedly said: “If searches are going to take place, you wouldn’t find anything in the garage.”
He turned down a police request to look around the free-standing building at the £1.5million seven bedroom property in Royston, Herts.
Officer's went to look for computer devices at the couple's home
Home of Helen Bailey in Royston
If searches are going to take place, you wouldn’t find anything in the garage
Two months later the remains of Ms Bailey were discovered in a concealed cesspit under the garage, along with the body of her pet dachshund Boris.
St Albans Crown Court was told that when police went to arrest Stewart,who was wearing a dressing gown, he said: “You’re joking!”The
56-year-old computer expert was asked if he understood why he was being held and replied, “I guess so”, then added: “Bloody hell! Why?”
Helen Bailey, 51 was found dead at her home in Royston
Jurors were shown film of the arrest in which Stewart is allowed to get dressed and fetch medication, says the garage door should not be open and asks: “Have you found her?”
Father-of-two Stewart denies murdering Ms Bailey in April 2016. He also denies fraud, perverting the course of justice and preventing a lawful burial.
Stewart allegedly told his son two men called Nick and Joe were to blame for the disappearance of Ms Bailey, who was famed as the author of the Electra Brown books aimed at teenage girls.
Garage at the home of Helen Bailey in Royston
The court heard that while police were searching for her Stewart “came very close” to committing suicide at the couple’s seaside cottage in Broadstairs, Kent.
Stewart is said to have killed Ms Bailey to get his hands on her £4million fortune, with several attempts allegedly made to access her online bank account after she vanished.
Simon Russell Flint, defending,said that on the evening of the day the writer went missing Stewart was watching his son Jamie play bowls.
The trial continues.