Cesspit killer’s sons to get share of murdered author’s £3m will
CESSPIT killer Ian Stewart’s two sons could inherit more than £500,000 from his victim’s £3.3million fortune, it emerged yesterday.
Children’s writer Helen Bailey left the majority of her estate to Stewart who murdered her to get his hands on the cash.
He was jailed for life last week and will not now get a penny.
Ms Bailey was close to her killer’s sons Jamie, 24, and Oliver, 21, and named them as beneficiaries.
The author’s executor Tony Hurley will now decide how to divide up her estate between 13 people.
An equal share would mean the brothers would each receive more than £250,000.
Ms Bailey’s neighbour Mavis Drake said: “Helen was definitely very fond of Ian’s two boys. I am sure as time went on she probably grew to love them more and more. Obviously they had nothing to do with her murder.”
Stewart, 56, smothered Ms Bailey, 51, with a pillow and dumped her body in a cesspit under the garage at their home in Royston, Herts, last April .
He also killed her dachshund Boris and threw the dog’s body into the pit. Last week, a jury at St Albans Crown Court found him guilty and he was jailed for at least 34 years.
The brothers, who gave evidence against their father, suffered another blow when police reopened the file on the death of their mother Diane.
Mrs Drake, 82, said: “It must be hell for them having their father being convicted of murder and now being investigated over the death of their mother.
“I know Helen wrote in her book that when she first joined Ian and his sons for Christmas Day, that she did not want to replace their mother. She didn’t want to destroy their way of life and take Ian away from them.
“They regarded her as their father’s Neil Fingleton was 36 girlfriend or partner which is what she wanted.”
Mrs Stewart collapsed and died following an epileptic fit in 2010.
The brothers were included in the 10-page will which was drawn up in 2014. It named financial adviser Mr Hurley as executor. He did not respond for requests for comment.