Murder trial of author Helen Bailey: A round up of the evidence so far
A round up of all the evidence heard so far in the Helen Bailey murder trial at St Albans Crown Court
The fiancé of wealthy childrens author Helen Bailey allegedly slowly drugged her for months before murdering her and dumping her body, together with her pet dog, into a hidden underground cesspit at their £1.5million home.
Ms Baileys fiancé, Ian Stewart of Baldock Road in Royston, is alleged to have slowly drugged her for months with sleeping drug Zopiclone before killing her and dumping her body, together with her dog Boris, into the cess pit.
Stewart denies murder, fraud, preventing a lawful burial and three counts of perverting the course of justice.
The 56-year-old, who is standing trial at St Albans Crown Court, claims that two men named just Joe and Nick were responsible for the murder and disposal of Ms Baileys body.
Helen Bailey murder trial day one: Children's author fiance accused of killing and dumping her in cesspit
Ms Baileys body, and the body of her dog, were found during a further search of her Royston house after police discovered a second cesspit under the garage. Ms Bailey was found three months after she was reported missing by Stewart.
Opening the case on Tuesday, prosecutor Stuart Trimmer said Ms Bailey and Stewart had planned to marry, but plans were made that if she died before the wedding then Stewart would obtain the house and a very financial advantage.
The defendant allegedly murdered Ms Bailey, probably by suffocation between 10.51am and 2.30pm on Monday April 11, 2016.
Before she died, Ms Bailey told family members she was worried she was losing her memory, and internet searches were made by her as to why she kept falling asleep, the court was told.
Helen Bailey murder trial DAY TWO: Children's author fiancé accused of drugging her for months before killing
At 3.57pm the following day, Stewart reported Ms Bailey missing before sitting back and watching as police conducted what he knew to be a futile missing persons investigation, the prosecution claim.
The prosecution state that Stewart carried out a cynically executed murder that had money as its driving motive.
So far in the trial, jurors have heard:
Wednesday
Consultant forensic pathologist Nathaniel Carey, who said that if Ms Bailey was sedated, she could have been killed by more subtle means which showed no visual injuries, including an arm lock or a sleeper hold.
Giving evidence on Tuesday (January 10) he said the cause of Helens death was officially listed as "undetermined" and that it was unlikely that natural causes resulted or played any part in her death.
He added: Its possible she could have been put down the well in an unconscious state [and then drowned], that would be another possibility to consider. I wouldnt be able to completely exclude that. Its so scenario dependent.
It seems that not only was Helen concealed by a third party, but it seems it was likely she died at the hands of a third party by some means.
Dr Afshan Kahn, a GP who prescribed Stewart with Zopiclone, said Stewart came to see her and said he was finding it difficult to sleep.
The record showed that he had previously used Zopiclone, and it had helped him, she told jurors.
Dr Kahn said Zopiclone is a very safe, mild, sleeping drug and is one of the safest of this type of medication.
Stewart had previously been supplied Zopiclone in August 2010 and June 2005, the court heard.
I dont think there would have been anything about his behaviour when I met him which concerned me. If there had been, I would have acted upon it, she added.
Dr Kahn agreed with the defence barrister that Zopiclone was not a heavy duty, knockout, sleeping drug.
Helen Bailey murder trial DAY THREE: Author joked old well 'would be a good place to hide a body'
Dr Mark Piper, a forensic toxicologist, was next to give evidence on Wednesday and suggested that Helen may have been fighting the side-effects of the drug to stay awake.
He told jurors that side effects of the drug include short term amnesia - someone who might worry about their state of mind.
He said: If taking the Zopiclone drug in the morning, it would have the same effect than in the evening.
If taken in the morning you would effectively be fighting the side effects [of the drug] to stay awake.
Body samples from Helens body were analysed for prescription drugs and Zopiclone was detected, jurors were told.
Under cross examination by the defence, Dr Piper said he couldnt confirm whether the drug was taken [by Helen] knowingly or not.
He admitted that his answers are based on the assumption that Helen Bailey died on April 11, 2016.
Fiancé of wealthy Royston author Helen Bailey accused of 'slowly drugging her for months before murdering her'
At the end of the day on Wednesday (January 11), jurors heard a statement from Dr Jonathan Williams, the vet who conducted a postmortem of Helens dog Boris.
On July 19 Dr Williams was asked to establish cause of death, timing of death, and whether Boris was alive or dead when it went into the [septic] tank.
He said: The postmortem was performed on the dog. The animal was in good nutritional condition. It was well cared for, its nails were trimmed appropriately.
However, due to the very poor preservation of the carcass due to severe postmortem self-digestion, this interpretation was extremely compromised.
It cannot be established whether the animal was alive or dead when it was placed in the septic tank.
He said while a small amount of foreign material, likely septic tank debris, was found in the trachea of the dog, this did not extend into the lower airways, and the lungs did not appear heavy or wet.
Dr Williams said taking all the findings into account, he could not confirm whether the animal drowned, and confirming drowning in this case would require additional evidence.
Thursday
On Thursday (January 12), jurors heard from John Bailey, Ms Baileys brother, who said he had first seen the Royston house in August 2013 and was shown round by his sister.
Mr Bailey said during that visit, one or both of the couple mentioned an old well in the garage.
He added: I asked had they [Stewart and my sister] looked in the well, and was told no, it wasnt that kind of a well.
There was some banter, almost certainly instigated by Helen, that it would be a good place to hide a body.
Helen Bailey could have been killed by more subtle means, including an arm lock or a sleeper hold
He said the well "never ever featured in his consciousness at any time during his sisters disappearance.
Mr Bailey said it was only when he was told by a detective constable where his sisters body had been found on July 15 last year that his recollection of the previous conversation came back.
Mr Bailey also said he went to look for his sister at her house in Broadstairs, Kent, on April 14, 2016, after Stewart told him Ms Bailey had left a note saying she needed time alone.
He said friends of Ms Bailey had contacted him worried about being unable to reach her, and that he searched for her to no avail, even walking along the promenade in Broadstairs.
Tracey Stratton, a friend of Ms Bailey, gave evidence to the court on Thursday afternoon.
She told jurors that she had known Helen for 15 years, adding: I was close to Helen. After her husband died, I more or less moved in with her for a while.
Tracey said Helen then moved in with Stewart and got a house in Royston.
She was happy in Royston, it was just an adjustment. She confided in me that she might get married to Ian in January 2016, she said.
Tracey also told jurors of her frantic attempts to get in touch with Ms Bailey on the day she was allegedly murdered adding that Ms Bailey always responded to missed calls and texts.
Traces of sleeping drug found in Helen Bailey's hair, court told
On April 11 last year - the alleged date of Ms Baileys murder - Tracey exchanged emails with Ms Bailey about wedding dresses and the venue. There was nothing then to make me think there was anything wrong, she was excited about the future, she added.
At 12.10pm the same day Tracey called Ms Bailey on her mobile and text her afterwards, but got no answer.
She told jurors: I tried to call her throughout the day but it went to voicemail every time. This was very unusual.
I was immediately quite worried. Things just werent right.
Author Helen Bailey joked hidden cesspit 'would be a good place to hide a body' prior to her death
She said there were no issues or problems raised by Ms Bailey in respect of her relationship with Stewart.
The trial continues.
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