GUILTY UK - Diane Stewart, 47, found dead, Bassingbourn, Cambridgeshire, 25 June 2010 *arrest in 2020*

[Rusty Braincells]

BBC Article

Diane Stewart: How a donated brain helped convict a double killer

Thank you, this was very interesting indeed. Stewart probably thought he had got away with it. This article mentions the lack of motive. I think he was simply tired of Diane and wanting to do his own thing and perhaps even with the pre-diagnosed condition there was a small life insurance payout, not the kind of sum that seems remotely worth killing the mother of your children (or anyone) for, but I recall from Helen’s case evidence Stewart was rather a miser and upset if asked to pay small amounts of cash etc.

As to the possibility of other murders, Stewart is certainly capable. I don’t seem him as the type to kill a woman who was a stranger to him, but to be thorough, I would look carefully again at the circumstances of any deaths of any family members or family friends throughout his life, particularly if he might have benefited financially.

 

[MonsterMatt345]

I never thought this is something that we’d see taken to trial, never mind a guilty verdict. It always seemed suspicious to people as soon as we heard about the fate of Ian Stewart’s ex wife but it just seemed like something he’d never be prosecuted for.

Its already been said but it makes me wish that they’d put some more care and thought into Diane’s death. Helen would still be alive to this day and IS would never have darkened her door. His poor boys as well, as fantastic and deserved this result is there’s no winners here.

 

[Tortoise]

Ian Stewart has been sentenced to a whole life order for the "horrifying and terrifying" murder of his first wife, Diane, in 2010.

He was previously sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 34 years for the murder of Helen Bailey in 2017.

Helen Bailey's killer Ian Stewart found guilty of murdering first wife

 

[neteditor]

Yes! Justice for Diane.

(I probably shouldn't laugh, but who gets French sticks and pate to celebrate anything, let alone a driving test pass? Weird man. )

 

[Rusty Braincells]

Ian Stewart has been sentenced to a whole life order for the "horrifying and terrifying" murder of his first wife, Diane, in 2010.

He was previously sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 34 years for the murder of Helen Bailey in 2017.

Helen Bailey's killer Ian Stewart found guilty of murdering first wife

Good, very much the correct sentence IMO, it doesn’t matter he’s already in his sixties. He doesn’t deserve a single second free ever again.

 

[Alyce]

Ian Stewart has been sentenced to a whole life order for the "horrifying and terrifying" murder of his first wife, Diane, in 2010.

He was previously sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 34 years for the murder of Helen Bailey in 2017.

Helen Bailey's killer Ian Stewart found guilty of murdering first wife

Wow, I was not expecting that. This is absolutely brilliant news.

 

[Rusty Braincells]

I never thought this is something that we’d see taken to trial, never mind a guilty verdict. It always seemed suspicious to people as soon as we heard about the fate of Ian Stewart’s ex wife but it just seemed like something he’d never be prosecuted for.

Its already been said but it makes me wish that they’d put some more care and thought into Diane’s death. Helen would still be alive to this day and IS would never have darkened her door. His poor boys as well, as fantastic and deserved this result is there’s no winners here.

I agree, I thought this was a “lie on file” sort of case where most people would reasonably assume he had done it, but a conviction would be hard to secure in the circumstances. It’s the right result I believe, but in a way, it is hurtful for both families to know Helen would not have died if the facts of Diane’s death as now revealed, were known earlier.

 

[Deathsgrandaughter]

Excellent. So sorry for both these women. I can't help but think of how Helen Bailey wrote of him, her Gorgeous Grey-haired Widower, and how awful it all turned out to be. How horrible for his children too.

 

[Rusty Braincells]

Wow, I was not expecting that. This is absolutely brilliant news.

I am really happy judges are utilising these sentences these days where appropriate. The upward trajectory of sentencing for our most heinous crimes in the UK is to be welcomed IMO. There are several killers not in the serial killer mould but killing people "closer" to them who have committed two separate murders and received such orders, some of them less notorious than Stewart (Glyn Dix, for example). It is a very appropriate sentence for Stewart and removes the risk of Helen & Diane's families having to ever worry about his possible parole as an old man.

 

[Alyce]

Good, very much the correct sentence IMO, it doesn’t matter he’s already in his sixties. He doesn’t deserve a single second free ever again.

It is such a good result. I thought he would get 25 years or so and, because that would already be covered within his current sentence for Helen, it would make no real difference to his situation.
Giving him Whole of Life awards justice to Diane on a separate level.

And now we can also refer to him as the double murderer.

 

[scandinavian girl]

Well yes of course, we all suspected it during Helens trial and I bet the police did as well early on. I am happy that Diane got justice so she can rest in peace from now on.

 

[Beachdreams]

I hope lessons will be learned from this - Helen would still be alive if a full forensic examination been carried out at the time of Diane’s death. Diane’s sister certainly had her suspicions. Such a tragedy.

 

[Rusty Braincells]

It is such a good result. I thought he would get 25 years or so and, because that would already be covered within his current sentence for Helen, it would make no real difference to his situation.
Giving him Whole of Life awards justice to Diane on a separate level.

And now we can also refer to him as the double murderer.

It is a very good point about the element of justice for Diane in this sentence. In my post at 3.37pm today, I said I hope Stewart gets a whole life order and really happy to see that he has (I didn't expect sentencing today but perhaps it was straightforward). I had a feeling he might, because it's the way sentencing trends have been going for broadly similar cases. I hope IS hasn't got the gall to appeal it, especially given his age making the point almost entirely academic, but the man has no shame or conscience, so...

 

[Legally Bland]

R -v- Stewart: Sentencing Remarks

 

[Scratchingmyhead]

Helen Bailey killer is found guilty of murdering his first wife in 2010 | Daily Mail Online

 

[Rusty Braincells]

R -v- Stewart: Sentencing Remarks

Thank you, really interesting and I can feel the judge's tone come through. I see the judge notes Stewart did indeed benefit financially from Diane's death, perhaps the BBC article will be updated. I am sure that and wanting his "freedom" was sufficient for Stewart -- the remarks also mention arguments with Diane shortly before her death, witnessed by at least one of the sons.

While not anything like an expert (I am a solicitor but not in criminal law), I personally consider the judge's remarks an excellent example of seeing how a whole-life sentence is arrived at and I note he points out that while there are no prescriptive rules (seriousness is the criterion), Stewart's crimes are within a couple of the limbs that make a whole-life order a starting point, there is essentially no mitigation, and it is irrelevant to the rendering of justice that he is already 61 and might conceivably die before his 34-year-minimum for Helen Bailey is us up.

"Your punishment must fit the crime not the vagaries of your life-span."

Excellent remarks IMO.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

I like those last words of the sentence.

"Take Him Down"

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

Helen Bailey killer is found guilty of murdering his first wife in 2010 | Daily Mail Online

The smirking video. Gross. So cocksure.

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

I feel immensely sorry for his family, and Diane's family, especially the two sons who he deprived of a mother.

All credit to Diane's sister Wendy. She knew something was amiss and wouldn't let go.

 

[Rusty Braincells]

The smirking video. Gross. So cocksure.

Loathsome. "You're joking!", is exactly the first thing Stewart said when arrested for Helen's murder too, if I recall correctly. He really thinks he is so clever. The sad part is only Helen's death meant Diane's death was investigated properly, as others have said.