Partner of children’s author to appear in the dock charged with her murder
THE partner of children’s author Helen Bailey will appear in court this afternoon charged with her murder.
Ian Stewart, 55, of Baldock Road in Royston, was expected to appear at St Albans Crown Court yesterday, but the hearing failed to go ahead because court papers had not been filed.
Mr Stewart was arrested by Hertfordshire Police when the body of the 51-year-old writer was found in the garden of her sprawling home in Royston on Friday.
He has also been charged with perverting the course of justice by reporting Ms Bailey as missing and hiding her body, and preventing a lawful burial.
He appeared at Hatfield Remand Court on Saturday mornmatch ing and was remanded in custody. Police said he had been due to appear at St Albans Crown Court on Monday, but a preliminary hearing will now be heard this afternoon.
Ms Bailey was last seen several weeks after the fifth anniversary of the death of her husband, John Sinfield, 65, who drowned on a holiday in Barbados in February 2011.
The writer, who created the Electra Brown series for teenagers, was last seen walking her miniature dachshund Boris near her home on April 11.
The body of the dog was also found in the grounds.
After Ms Bailey vanished, it was initially thought that she had gone away for a few days and may have been depressed.
The couple met through a Facebook group for bereavement in 2011, which Mr Stewart joined following the death of his wife Diane who had an epileptic fit in their garden in 2010.