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

[icemaiden65]

Bang on Batface! x

 

[Alyce]

Author Helen Bailey set to be honoured with blue plaque at her seaside home to ensure she is remembered as a writer rather than a murder victim.

She loved to escape to the terrace cottage in Broadstairs, Kent,

Now the town’s mayor Peter Shaw and civic dignitaries are considering giving the writer the honour of a plaque.

The influential Broadstairs Society is likely to support the move to pay tribute to a former resident who made many friends there and was frequently seen walking on the beach with her dog Boris.

“We will be in discussion with the town council to consider an appropriate way of commemorating her affection for the town. We may suggest a plaque on the house she owned to remind people that a popular author once lived there.

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/77...ue-kent?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

 

[ZaZara]

Online now. I haven't read it yet, but It is bound to contain some upsetting reports so be warned.

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/77...stewart-temper-dog-boris-neighbours-evil-side

Next-door neighbour Mavis Drake, a close friend of Helen, said: “She was a lovely, warm woman who would do anything to help you but he was quite cold and unfriendly.

“They were like chalk and cheese. Helen liked to go out to dinner and would dress immaculately, yet Ian would be unshaven, his hair unkempt and he’d wear a crumpled shirt that was often un-tucked.

BBM

The wedding at Brocket Hall, such a posh location.... how would IS ever have pulled that off? Top hat, morning coat?
IMHO it would have been the undoing of the relationship. At last.


and this one:

"...Ian and Helen had come round and he was shouting and swearing about the hedge.

“He was trying his hardest to intimidate my wife. He was really annoyed, shouting and swearing, and he’d gone red-faced with anger. I rushed down to intervene. I told him very firmly that if he didn’t leave, I’d make him leave. In the end we had to contact our solicitor to get hold of the deeds to our house to prove that we did own the hedge."

BBM

I cannot help but wonder, that if HB learned through grief counselling that her husband JS had not been perfect, she somehow accepted that IS wasn't perfect either, and that this kind of behaviour was part of that imperfection (instead of a huge red flag).

 

[BatFace]

I think other posters have nailed it by pointing out how vulnerable Helen was to the smallest of kindnesses. I've never been widowed, but I know that after divorce, I ignored all sorts of warning signs in my subsequent relationship because I didn't want to look stupid for leaping into something else, which turned out to be all wrong.


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[Cherwell]

Horrible, horrible creature.
And Helen was with him when he went round to rage at the neighbour? And he made no secret of his dislike of Boris?
Whatever possessed her to want this vile excuse for a man?
I could understand if he was attractive, but he's hideous.

 

[Tortoise]

Horrible, horrible creature.
And Helen was with him when he went round to rage at the neighbour? And he made no secret of his dislike of Boris?
Whatever possessed her to want this vile excuse for a man?
I could understand if he was attractive, but he's hideous.

He said in his evidence Helen had had a falling out with a neighbour just after they moved in. Typical.

 

[BatFace]

He said in his evidence Helen had had a falling out with a neighbour just after they moved in. Typical.

Gosh, yes!!


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[ZaZara]

So you love your tiny dachshund to pieces and your partner whom you plan to marry is throwing stones at the neighbours' dogs.

Am I missing something?
What was going on there, besides boys eating artisan cheese on sandwiches and garlic bread with everything?


:biggrin:

 

[ZaZara]

I need a break. It has been quite a day, plus a night and I hope you all sleep well.


fftobed:

 

[Tortoise]

[FONT=&quot]Stewart is asked about any confrontations Helen had in the family and so on.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“The biggest confrontation we’ve had is with the neighbour soon after we moved in.

http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/incoming/helen-bailey-murder-trial-case-12475974

His first recorded police interview[/FONT]

 

[pinklilies]

I find the whole of that article disturbing.

He took helen round purposely hoping the neighbours would dislike her too, word would get around and she'd be isolated further.

It's been said he was tight when it came to money so why on earth was he keen to have a concrete mount with a large ceramic urn installed in the back garden?

This monster gives me the shivers. I can't bear to read nothing more about him.

Goodnight all.

 

[icemaiden65]

I find the whole of that article disturbing.

He took helen round purposely hoping the neighbours would dislike her too, word would get around and she'd be isolated further.

It's been said he was tight when it came to money so why on earth was he keen to have a concrete mount with a large ceramic urn installed in the back garden?

This monster gives me the shivers. I can't bear to read nothing more about him.

Goodnight all.

Surely not for Diane's ashes? It seems he still had them, but that would be just too macabre to even think about.

 

[Squamous]

I'm a pigeon on the sons too. I don't think they owe anyone anything. They didn't kill Helen and there have been no charges to indicate that the police believe that they knew anything about that their father had done, I think that's all that's relevant. Whether they personally liked Helen has nothing to do with anything imo.

One of the things that really does sadden me about this is that Helen was upfront about the fact that she would have loved to have had children and, had she been able to have them, I'm pretty sure she would have escaped any notice from IS for many reasons - and even if he'd tried it on, she would have been so much less vulnerable.

It was quiet at work last night which gave me time to think and I was struck afresh that HE ACTUALLY KILLED HER. I think dealing with the death of a novelist inevitably feels like a novel some of the time (although when IS introduced Nick and Joe it turned into a sodding farce), but this is no story. Helen really died and is never coming back.

 

[Val Lancashire]

Hello, I've followed this thread throughout the trial and I read back to the beginning when I discovered the discussion - not caught up to the end yet (the sentencing). It has been a special community brought together by shock and sadness. Helen was vulnerable in raw grief and being suddenly single, with household maintenance and finances to resolve at a time of deep emotional loss. Maybe her legacy could be that bereavement support groups prioritise those practicalities ahead of too swift a search for the next soul mate / life partner. Also I hope some literary award / canine charity will continue her memory. It is saddening but unsurprising that her existing career / family / friendship network could not outweigh the persuasive presence of her nemesis IS, who filled a vacuum in her life, solved her plumbing problems (how it hurts to record that, against her ultimate degradation at his hands). Helen jestingly thought her writing gave her power over him, but instead maybe her words inflamed and strengthened his resolve. Allowing for writer's distortion, surely IS and his sons were not flattered by the hamster-cage curry-house description - but they interacted daily with her (after a fashion) so maybe the sons at any rate took it in jest "just banter innit" - after all, the books subsidised their lifestyle, and Helen described her wish to be a big sister to them - so hey. IS is regardless now revealed by his own actions (bowls club stinginess / renewing the season ticket / going on the pre-booked holiday) - revealed as a cold, calculating, avaricious thief and murderer. Nothing that Helen wrote or said could have changed the outcome for her, nothing exculpates the crime committed by IS, and I am not intending to "blame the victim" - but did she share too much too publicly ("John - rescue me from Royston"). If IS wanted to hate her, the fuel was there - but perhaps he has not even that capacity. Her talents, and the new direction she was seeking (the university course?) are now lost to us, but we can all continue her legacy of kindness in our everyday lives and not let his malevolence define her life. I'm alone and like others I have found this forum cathartic and respectful, an opportunity to hear from those close to Helen and those who were in Court, to tease out thoughts, above a level of shallow gossip or chit-chat. Thank you to everyone who has been posting.

 

[BlueMosaic]

On the Ch 5 programme, her other neighbour (Mavis?) said that Helen used to say hello through a gap in the fence and later pretended to be miffed, saying she didn't like the replacement. Agree that IS seemed to be isolating her, with other neighbours, almost certainly deliberately, but anyway just by being a nasty, mean person.
Would love to see any future editions of Helen's book with some kind of foreword or end chapter, perhaps from one person, perhaps a collection of pieces about Helen from loved ones-anything to take away that creature having the last word or dedication.

 

[cottonweaver]

Ms Bailey, 51, left the bulk of her estate to her partner Ian Stewart, 56
Murderer Stewart will decide how to split the inheritance between 13 people

Huh?
Where's Moll? She previously fired off an email to another no-hoper reporter from the STimes.


I see Mavis has commented there too. Circumspection required if you have only known all parties for 3 years since 2013?

As I said some threads ago, "undue influence" could also have been a successful litigation argument in a case like this, I appreciate that no-one will go down that line but just saying....

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...sons-inherit-slice-fortune.html#ixzz4ZmnEMceO
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

ETA . more new articles, DExpress etc - thanks for the links, going to have a read of them.

 

[MillyM]

Not sure I took this in before. What was reason for IS not showing death certificate do you think?

"Speaking to The Telegraph the relative, who did not want to be named, revealed Stewart hadn't even allowed Diane's mum to see her death certificate.

They said: "We were told at the time it was an unexplained death and it has worried me, it has been on my mind that it was unexplained."

The relative added: “He [Stewart] was the only one there when she died… I know her brother and sister have been very concerned.

"Diane's mother never knew how she died, he never showed her Diane's death certificate even when she requested it and he just said it was unexplained."

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/29575...slice-of-murdered-helen-baileys-3-3m-fortune/

That neighbour seems to be getting her name in everywhere.

 

[T41]

Thank you to all on here for this thread and endless discussions, analysis and pet photos. I have spent many hours reading opinions and information. It's been fascinating whilst obviously traumatic. I admire those who read every single post, both here in the UK and those in time zones necessitating becoming almost nocturnal in order to follow in real time. I have struggled to keep up with posts and then cannot remember where I read points that I wanted to contribute to or say how much I liked. I became very behind as have been processing and talking here at home since the jury was sent out to reach their verdict. I very much liked the ordering of a special snowdrop mug and especially liked the tracking down Boris' breeder in order to have a puppy with the same bloodlines. I very much hope a picture of the puppy Bailey will be shared here in June.


I also read the thread for Susan McLean as recommended here. I read every post but having initially skipped to the end to read the article from when her sister visited. I sometimes do this with books too as like to know the outcome first if I am worried it may be upsetting! Having read the sister saying it was natural causes I was not prepared to read what really happened. Susan's story touched us as we love that area of Scotland and walked those hills on holiday, just as I have walked the heath where Helen walked Boris. That sense of connection to people we have never known other than through the stories of their loss, by having shared an enjoyment of a physical place. Thank you to whoever it was that shared Susan's thread.


Thank you too to Michelle as I think it was yourself who pushed me to go forward on that Monday morning at court when there were more people wanting to go in the court than seats. I probably would not have gone in had you not done that.


I only wish people to think a little more about some of the things they say or write and how they may be received by others who may be hurt by those words. I think sometimes posters forget that they are posting to everyone and their words may be read by the people they are criticising. Please don't ascribe blame to anyone for Helen and Boris' deaths other than IS. He is the only one responsible for what happened. I can understand the temptation to try and understand why he is the way he is but it is not his mother's fault, his father's fault or his only child status (I confess this was raw (so I accept I could be overly sensitive) as my mother, husband and daughter are all only children and they all seem very loving, sharing and caring). It would be so upsetting to find one party to this case ended her own life after reading some of the comments here, no matter if some of her advice or actions are later seen even possibly by herself as flawed.


I don't want Hartwell Lodge demolished - it is so beautiful. I am sure many people have been very happy living there. I do want it connected to the main sewer system and that well filled in. This would be a huge cost I know but that is something I would like to see. I had thought about that I want them to reduce the purchase price on the understanding those works would be completed (which would have the advantage of reducing the share to IS but feel he could prevent the sale - can he do this anyway?). Then though I just want that done as soon as possible and to know it had been done so maybe I would like it funded from the estate. Complicated. I just would be very happy to know the well was completely filled in.


In line with other posters here, I also found that Dachshund picture by the front door particularly sad to see in the bodycam police video.


I hope J&O will remember that they are not defined by anyone's actions other than their own. That they grow and become the people their mum would be proud of them to have become. If I were them I would change my surname as would not want to even have his name, maybe take Diane's maiden name. I cannot imagine the process they will have to go through now to reconcile what has happened.




When the guilty verdicts came in on Wednesday I celebrated and simultaneously experienced a wave of such strong emotion, tears fell. Such depths of sadness for someone I'd never known. It was reassuring to later read here that that was a common reaction. In the evening I had a glass of Baileys for Helen and Boris. My husband had a glass of Aberfeldy single malt whisky to remember Susan. Those drinks will now always make me think of those two (and Boris!) who were loved so dearly by so many.


I will walk the heath in April. I can't decide whether to mark the 11th as I think I want to walk the heath in sunshine as Helen seemed such a sunny happy person, so may delay if the weather is poor. Whether on or after the 11th I will make that walk and take that time to reflect and I will think of you all with me.


Thank you again for all of you being here. x

 

[Cherwell]

That neighbour seems to be getting her name in everywhere.

That part has just been copied from the Mail article.

 

[MillyM]

I think the only valid and interesting sides (in any forthcoming interview, should they wish to speak) will come from the sons, the sister or mother of Diane, and Stewart's father. I am still at a loss as to how the sons lived in that house with a murderer, their father, for 3 months yet never it appears noted one single oddity in his behaviour or manner that whole time. Was he really that good at acting perfectly normal, or did they have doubts? And if they did, why didn't they come forward with them?