GUILTY UK - Helen Bailey, 51, Royston, 11 April 2016 #1

[Tortoise]

[FONT=&quot]Ian Stewart, 55, spoke only to confirm his name when he appeared briefly in the glass-panelled dock before magistrates in Hatfield, Hertfordshire.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]He is charged with murdering Helen, 51, on April 11, perverting the course of justice and preventing lawful burial.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]No bail application was made and he was remanded in custody to appear at St Albans Crown Court on Monday.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/novelist-helen-baileys-partner-appears-8434972[/FONT]

 

[neteditor]

Agh, he disgusts me even more. Thought he would get away with it.

So what did make the police focus on the garden? Why not the surrounding coastal areas of Broadstairs, and the garden there? Is it because they never saw evidence of Helen leaving, on the neighbours cctv I wonder.

I think we covered this earlier... the evidence suggests she didn't leave that house alive... car not taken, bag not taken, etc etc... They were searching at Broadstairs too of course we haven't seen as much coverage of what was happening there.

Now I have other questions. I presume a body would rise to the surface? Wouldn't there be a chance of causing a blockage in the overflow? Is this too insensitive, and disgusting for discussion?

Under normal operation there should be a lot of space between the contents of the tank and the top because aeration is also needed for the bacteria to work.

 

[Alyce]

Agh, he disgusts me even more. Thought he would get away with it.

So what did make the police focus on the garden? Why not the surrounding coastal areas of Broadstairs, and the garden there? Is it because they never saw evidence of Helen leaving, on the neighbours cctv I wonder.

I think that's it. There was no evidence that Helen and Boris had ever left the house. No CCTV, no taxi pick up, nothing.
The only way they could have departed was if a friend had driven them away from the house. And I think, as time went by and it was known how distraught her family were, that any friend would have come forward and owned up.

 

[ZaZara]

Now I have other questions. I presume a body would rise to the surface? Wouldn't there be a chance of causing a blockage in the overflow? Is this too insensitive, and disgusting for discussion?

Depending on the construction (*) of the tank or well, and on it's depth, after a 2 week holiday the level of fluid in the tank would be considerably lower.


* The septic tank on my property is constructed with bricks. Water seeps through and sinks slowly into the earth. This is a natural process. Only when you have a lot of water, that is when you need the overflow.

 

[Tortoise]

I think we covered this earlier... the evidence suggests she didn't leave that house alive... car not taken, bag not taken, etc etc... They were searching at Broadstairs too of course we haven't seen as much coverage of what was happening there.




Under normal operation there should be a lot of space between the contents of the tank and the top because aeration is also needed for the bacteria to work.

I thought they might assume she had been removed in the boot of his car.

 

[MillyM]

Would a septic tank be on a land deed?(

"In most situations the title deeds for a property will indicate whether the property drains to a septic tank."

 

[neteditor]

The bag thing is still bugging me too. How did they suddenly find out her bag had not been taken and why did they think it had been for so long? We know some event last weekend or week before triggered the arrest but we're only guessing what that was.

 

[Tortoise]

The bag thing is still bugging me too. How did they suddenly find out her bag had not been taken and why did they think it had been for so long? We know some event last weekend or week before triggered the arrest but we're only guessing what that was.

Maybe they've been searching his rubbish and found her bag, and/or other belongings like her phone?

 

[MillyM]

 

[neteditor]

I thought they might assume she had been removed in the boot of his car.

Excellent point I hadn't thought of that.

 

[Tortoise]

I'm back to thinking they had a tip off, of sorts. It was a very specific charge he was arrested with at the beginning of the week.

 

[BatFace]

The trouble with the manslaughter defence is that it seems far likelier it was pre-meditated. For it to be an accidental shove or similar, some time after when she was seen mid-afternoon, he would have to have concocted his whole plan (including killing poor Boris) on the hoof, clearing up and devising his story before one or both of the sons arrived home, presumably around teatime. That simply doesn't seem feasible for somebody upset and panicking after an accident during a row.

 

[Alyce]

The bag thing is still bugging me too. How did they suddenly find out her bag had not been taken and why did they think it had been for so long? We know some event last weekend or week before triggered the arrest but we're only guessing what that was.

That puzzles me too, but from a slightly different perspective.
Why would finding a bag at Helen's house create suspicion. She would have had more than one surely, so why didnt the police just think she had another bag with her.
Am sure IS would have removed anything such as credit cards or change purse from sight.

 

[Alyce]

I thought they might assume she had been removed in the boot of his car.

I wonder if they did do the ANPR for that journey to Broadstairs.

 

[neteditor]

That puzzles me too, but from a slightly different perspective.
Why would finding a bag at Helen's house create suspicion. She would have had more than one surely, so why didnt the police just think she had another bag with her.
Am sure IS would have removed anything such as credit cards or change purse from sight.

Well perhaps, but I would personally only ever have one bag on the go and replace it when it falls to bits. Otherwise I'd always be leaving the house with the stuff I needed in the bag I left at home! So not a given to have more than one.

 

[neteditor]

I wonder if they did do the ANPR for that journey to Broadstairs.

I think you can count on it.

 

[Alyce]

The trouble with the manslaughter defence is that it seems far likelier it was pre-meditated. For it to be an accidental shove or similar, some time after when she was seen mid-afternoon, he would have to have concocted his whole plan (including killing poor Boris) on the hoof, clearing up and devising his story before one or both of the sons arrived home, presumably around teatime. That simply doesn't seem feasible for somebody upset and panicking after an accident during a row.

However, it is a very large house, a body or bodies could be kept in a room for a matter of hours if need be .......and the other person may have been due home late or perhaps away at the time ?


ETA another reason why it would have been good to have cadaver dogs in the house from the beginning. If IS did have to keep her body in the house until later that day/evening, they could have picked up the scent.

 

[suzyjackson]

I think that's it. There was no evidence that Helen and Boris had ever left the house. No CCTV, no taxi pick up, nothing.
The only way they could have departed was if a friend had driven them away from the house. And I think, as time went by and it was known how distraught her family were, that any friend would have come forward and owned up.

Yes.ITA so why weren't the police searching the house and grounds right from the start?

Even if they had no suspicions about IS poor Helen could easily have comitted suicide somewhere on the property and hidden herself like Amber Peat. If permission to search had been denied by IS that would have been a massive red flag and I assume they could have got a search warrent based on that. I don't think the police are going to come out of this very well, IMO they have really failed Helen.

They must have had some reason to start the search of the septic tank and it's worrying to me that IS could well have literally got away with murder were it not for the neighbour.

 

[Alyce]

Well perhaps, but I would personally only ever have one bag on the go and replace it when it falls to bits. Otherwise I'd always be leaving the house with the stuff I needed in the bag I left at home! So not a given to have more than one.

Yes me too...

But the DI at Royston referred to Helen as - a lady of many clothes - so I am guessing she had several bags as well.
Which would at least allow IS to pretend that he didnt know which bag she had with her, as he could say there was more than one.

 

[neteditor]

Yes me too...

But the DI at Royston referred to Helen as - a lady of many clothes - so I am guessing she had several bags as well.
Which would at least allow IS to pretend that he didnt know which bag she had with her, as he could say there was more than one.

Excellent points