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

[Tortoise]

[FONT=&quot]15:36[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot][h=3]Statement from Margaret Holson, a friend of Ms Bailey's[/h]A statement is now being read to jurors from Margaret Holson, made on April 24, 2016, who had known Helen for three years.
She said: “Initially we had occasional drinks and coffee functions at Helen’s and my house. However we had become closer since Ian became ill.
“Four weeks ago Helen phoned me saying Ian was in hospital in critical care and had taken a turn for the worse. I returned to Royston.
“I offered to take Helen to the hospital but she said Ian was fine.
“A fortnight ago she brought round a basket of flowers to thank me. We had a brief conversation about Ian being cranky and not doing what he was told, but we joked about this.
“Recently Helen spoke about her previous husband John and said she wanted to move on from all this conversation about grief.
“She loved being in Royston, saying she had never made so many friends since she was living there and made lovely neighbours.
“She said she found it ‘different’ living with boys who were making a mess.
“Helen idolised her dog Boris, but I got the impression Ian was not so keen and less of a pet person.
“The last time I saw Helen would be April 5, she appeared absolutely fine. She came round after texting that Ian’s tumour was benign and that her life could begin.”

http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/new...iley-murder-trial-12464906?service=responsive

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[Tortoise]

[FONT=&quot]15:38[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot][h=3]Missed Facetime call from Helen's email address after she was 'missing'[/h]“We returned from holiday on April 16 and found Helen had been reported missing, We had not been in contact whilst we were away but I did not think anything of it. Since my return I sent emails texts and posted on Facebook to Helen, but she did not reply. On Sunday, April 24, I noticed a missed Facetime call from Helen’s email address at 3.31pm on Friday April 22, 2016.”

http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/new...iley-murder-trial-12464906?service=responsive

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[Alyce]

[FONT="]15:38[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#141414][FONT="][h=3]Missed Facetime call from Helen's email address after she was 'missing'[/h]“We returned from holiday on April 16 and found Helen had been reported missing, We had not been in contact whilst we were away but I did not think anything of it. Since my return I sent emails texts and posted on Facebook to Helen, but she did not reply. On Sunday, April 24, I noticed a missed Facetime call from Helen’s email address at 3.31pm on Friday April 22, 2016.”

http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/new...iley-murder-trial-12464906?service=responsive

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that was the day of the second - more thorough - police search

 

[Tortoise]

[FONT=&quot]15:42[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot][h=3]Statement from Mavis Drake, neighbour[/h]The next statement is from Mavis Drake (made June 28, 2016) who has lived in Royston since 1968. She said she had known Helen since she moved in around three years ago.
“When I saw Helen for the last time she was driving her new White Jeep. It was the first time I’d seen her driving this car.
I saw her flash past, which gave the impression she was in a rush.
“I also at some point in that week saw her walk into the town with Boris. She was wearing a dark grey long style jacket.
“Helen would often pop into my house but wouldn’t come inside if she had Boris with her. She was very considerate.
“Helen was very likeable and came across as open and friendly. The first time I saw her she was waiting to move into her new house with Ian and they had their arms round each other. I felt privileged to share the moment.”
Mavis said that Helen was highly strung, but for her to disappear would be ‘completely out of character’.
She said: “I became aware Helen had gone missing on April 13, 2016. On that evening around 7pm I noticed a police car on their driveway. I said to police I hoped nothing bad had happened, they told me Helen had gone missing.
“I saw Ian move his car out of the way when the tanker came to empty the drain cesspit.”
That’s the end of Mavis’ evidence.

http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/new...iley-murder-trial-12464906?service=responsive

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[Tortoise]

that was the day of the second - more thorough - police search

ooh! interesting

 

[Tortoise]

[FONT=&quot]15:47[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot][h=3]Statement from Pamela Charles, a friend of Stewart's[/h]There’s a statement from Pamela Charles, who is a friend of Stewart’s.
“I met Diane Lem (Stewart’s previous wife) and Stewart whilst at Salford University in 1981. They started a relationship and later married in 1986, I was a bridesmaid at their wedding.
“In June 2010 Diane died. After this I kept in regular contact with Ian but this did die down after time went on.
“I recall a conversation the couple had about remarrying if either of them died, Ian had said he hoped to remarry at some point.
“Around a year to 18 months later Ian told me he had met Helen, and I thought this was good for him.
“I invited them both to my 50th birthday in early 2013, but they declined.
“I became friends with Helen via Facebook, we never met personally but we would like each other’s posts and make comments from time to time.
“I knew that Helen’s first husband had also died.”

http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/new...iley-murder-trial-12464906?service=responsive

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[Tortoise]

Some of these sound more like defence character witnesses

 

[Tortoise]

[FONT=&quot]15:54[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot][h=3]Stewart told friend he was 'not coping all the time'[/h]“In April 2016 I was on holiday but when I returned I saw a Facebook post from Ian saying Helen was missing.
“I called Ian on his mobile on April 20, 2016. The call was not long at all. Ian answered and I asked him how he was.
“He replied ‘I am confused’. I asked him if he wanted to talk and he said no, so the call ended.
“We didn’t speak again after this.
“On April 24 I text him at 8.10pm, saying hello and sorry about the bizarre call. I said I was thinking of him and told him to keep strong as there were so many friends searching for Helen.
“On June 25, 2016, at 3.23pm, I asked him how he was coping. He said he was ‘not coping all the time’.
“I didn’t have any further conversations with him after this. I later realised he had been arrested.”

http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/new...iley-murder-trial-12464906?service=responsive

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[Tortoise]

[FONT=&quot]15:55[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot][h=3]Court ends for the day[/h]That is it for today in terms of evidence. Jurors will return at 10am tomorrow morning and the case will continue until 1pm. The case will not sit in the afternoon.

http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/new...iley-murder-trial-12464906?service=responsive

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[Alyce]

Officer looked for clues on Helen Bailey's computer and iPad

Pc Webster said he asked for access to Helen Bailey’s computer that might help with her whereabouts.

“I was wondering if she’d done any web searches for hotels or so on or had made any preparations to be somewhere else.

“Stewart showed me Helen’s desk, there was a Macbook computer on the desk and one of the windows was open on the screen. “Helen’s email account was open. I looked at the inbox and the outbox, and noted there were no emails sent since Monday, April 11. “There were no booking confirmation emails in the inbox or the trash. The browser history was blank and returned no results.”

Pc Webster said there was another device - Stewart tried to operate it and it was not responding. It was locked and Stewart told him he didn’t know the passcode.

“I asked Stewart if Ms Bailey used the internet on any other devices, he produced an iPad Mini. This was locked with a code which Stewart did not have.

“He found a notebook with a number of possible passwords but in the end we weren’t able to get into the iPad. I left it with Stewart to see if he could gain access.”


http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/incoming/live-helen-bailey-murder-trial-12464906

Just bringing this back up.

So IS had all Helen's passwords ( I remember the DI - Wheatley I think it was ) saying how helpful that had been because they had been easily able to look at Helen's on line activity.
But he didnt have the access codes to the * other device* and the I Pad mini ?

 

[Alyce]

[FONT="]15:42[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#141414][FONT="][h=3]Statement from Mavis Drake, neighbour[/h]The next statement is from Mavis Drake (made June 28, 2016) who has lived in Royston since 1968. She said she had known Helen since she moved in around three years ago.
“When I saw Helen for the last time she was driving her new White Jeep. It was the first time I’d seen her driving this car.
I saw her flash past, which gave the impression she was in a rush.
“I also at some point in that week saw her walk into the town with Boris. She was wearing a dark grey long style jacket.
“Helen would often pop into my house but wouldn’t come inside if she had Boris with her. She was very considerate.
“Helen was very likeable and came across as open and friendly. The first time I saw her she was waiting to move into her new house with Ian and they had their arms round each other. I felt privileged to share the moment.”
Mavis said that Helen was highly strung, but for her to disappear would be ‘completely out of character’.
She said: “I became aware Helen had gone missing on April 13, 2016. On that evening around 7pm I noticed a police car on their driveway. I said to police I hoped nothing bad had happened, they told me Helen had gone missing.
“I saw Ian move his car out of the way when the tanker came to empty the drain cesspit.”
That’s the end of Mavis’ evidence.

http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/new...iley-murder-trial-12464906?service=responsive

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Reporters getting it wrong again - couldn't have been April 13 - IS didn't report her missing until April 15- and the cess pit was drained on April 22

 

[Legally Bland]

It would be very dangerous to take zopiclone during the day and then drive... It could be something to do with that.

It can even be dangerous to take it at night then drive the next day, there are warnings in the leaflet about it.

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/medeff/reviews-examens/imovane-eng.php

The Jeep has been bugging me a bit, especially when considering the above. It seems counterintuitive to me that a nervous driver would feel more confident in a tank of a car.

Particularly when it comes to parking.

I wonder whose idea it was.

[Thanks for all the updates, A & T and anyone else I've missed]

 

[Ironside]

How was that witness of any value to the prosecution whatsoever?

It could be to show he was actively pursuing widows.

Sent from my F3311 using Tapatalk

 

[snoopydog]

I know.. so much suspicious activity from him right after she "disappears" . Activity that could be easily traced, like trying to get the money from the house sale, going to the dump, changing the standing order amount. Does make me wonder if after months of planning he had to take action suddenly, before he'd had time to get everything in order. Something more than just the pills running out, as he could easily get more pills. maybe Helen found out that he was up to something and confronted him, or maybe he found out she was contacting the other widower online and thought she was going to leave him.

I agree, It's like it was done hastily. I still can't get my head round money being the only reason for this. He could have easily got married, waited a few more years and then divorced her and got half of everything, if not half, a good amount... I doubt with the POA and changing her will she'd be unlikely to have done a pre nup. I get the feeling he's thought he's had no choice but to do this... either that or he's just incredibly stupid

Another thing he did on the FB group was start a 'roll call' asking everyone how their partner died and to write a bit about themselves, it was a seperate document on the page with around 200 responses to his question... maybe he was looking then for a good candidate....

For some reason though my instincts are telling me this wasn't something he had planned from the start. Obviously I could be wrong...

 

[BatFace]

What do you conclude from that, Tortoise?

 

[Legally Bland]

12:56
Stewart told brother Helen had gone to Broadstairs home

“On April 13, 2016, whilst I was at work, at 9.30am I got a text from my partner who asked me to get in touch with him asap, which I did.

“I received a message to speak to somebody called Tracey, who had been in touch with my partner and she had become concerned that she’d suddenly lost contact with Helen and wondered if there was a problem.

“I rang Helen on her mobile and got her answerphone, I then rang Ian.

“I asked to speak to Helen, and he said she wasn’t there. He said she’d gone to Broadstairs. He said: ‘I thought you would know’ which I didn’t.

“She said she had left a note for him which said ‘I need some space, gone to Broadstairs, please don’t contact me’. That’s the message he relayed to me.”

when he phoned her brother John.

I thought John Bailey's evidence was that he phoned IS

Just for clarity.

 

[Interested Bystander]

[FONT=&amp]15:54[/FONT]
[FONT=&amp]Stewart told friend he was 'not coping all the time'

“In April 2016 I was on holiday but when I returned I saw a Facebook post from Ian saying Helen was missing.
“I called Ian on his mobile on April 20, 2016. The call was not long at all. Ian answered and I asked him how he was.
“He replied ‘I am confused’. I asked him if he wanted to talk and he said no, so the call ended.
“We didn’t speak again after this.
“On April 24 I text him at 8.10pm, saying hello and sorry about the bizarre call. I said I was thinking of him and told him to keep strong as there were so many friends searching for Helen.
“On June 25, 2016, at 3.23pm, I asked him how he was coping. He said he was ‘not coping all the time’.
“I didn’t have any further conversations with him after this. I later realised he had been arrested.”[/FONT]

[FONT=&amp]

http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/new...iley-murder-trial-12464906?service=responsive



She texted him on 24th April. Is that not a bit weird? I thought he told the police he had lost his phone. At the moment I don't have a date this was said but here is a link to where I read it. Does anyone have a more precise date to rule this out?
[/FONT][FONT=&quot]
My information is from Day One of the Trial at 14.55

[/FONT][FONT=&quot]"Stewart was asked at an early stage to allow police access to his phone, but he didn’t want to relinquish this to police because he said this is how Helen would contact him. Arrangements were put in place for him to have a new handset, so he could hand his existing phone over, but he claimed to have lost it and his phone was never provided to the police. He said Helen’s mobile phone had never been found."

[/FONT]http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/cambridge-news/live-day-one-murder-trial-12427078[FONT=&amp]

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[Cherwell]

But he didnt have the access codes to the * other device* and the I Pad mini ?

I think the "other device" WAS the ipad mini. It's just the way it's been phrased that makes it sound like two things.

The Jeep has been bugging me a bit, especially when considering the above. It seems counterintuitive to me that a nervous driver would feel more confident in a tank of a car.

Particularly when it comes to parking.

I wonder whose idea it was.

I know what you mean, but it depends what she was nervous about. She might be less confident with regard to manoeuvrability, but there's no denying you are safer in a big heavy car than in a flimsy little Fiat or whatever it was she had.

 

[pinklilies]

Royston to Leatherhead is roughly a 150 mile round trip.

http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/cambridge-news/live-helen-bailey-murder-trial-12464906

...................

14:41
Mrs Cotter received 'desperate' sounding voicemail from Stewart

“On Monday, April 18, I got a call from Stewart who left a message on my voicemail. He’d said he had driven from Royston to Leatherhead (Surrey) to see Tony Hurley.

“He sounded desperate, upset, said he just didn’t know what he was doing. He said he wanted to speak to Tony.

“I told Stewart to speak to Tony that evening. Tony had looked after Helen’s investments.

“Stewart had not indicated what he wanted to speak to Tony about.

“Stewart left another voicemail on April 20. He wanted to know if Helen was able to access the money from her account and if she was able to, had she.

“He wanted to know if the police had contacted us. I wasn’t prepared to answer any of the questions until I spoke to our CEO to ascertain if it was OK to give this information to him.”

 

[LozDa]

Finally caught up. I've been incommunicado for a couple of days and have just had to binge read all afternoon to catch up. The only thing to add from me (being a bit of a phone/internet geek) is that another option for how the phone connected to the Wi-Fi but not to the phone network is by the SIM card having been removed.

Having said that, I'm not sure why he would want to switch the phone on at all if not to either attempt to place her phone (and potentially Helen herself) at Broadstairs, or to receive the text he had sent, which would both need the network ping.

The only option I can think that may be a possibility is that he was attempting to clear any incriminating texts or calls or search histories, like he had with other devices. In those scenarios, turning the phone on without the SIM card in would mean he could have the phone on without it pinging a network. He probably hadn't considered the Wi-Fi auto-connecting with saved details.

But that's a loose theory as I can't imagine there were incriminating texts or calls... So it's stumped me a bit as to why he turned it on. Maybe just old fashioned snooping...

Other than that, the only thing I have to add at this point is that Ian Stewart is an absolute bar steward and sadly it looks like he's hoodwinked an awful lot of people. I feel awful for his sons who must wonder every single day if their father could have been capable and then try and live their day refuting the possibility.

So much sadness.