Helen Bailey’s fiancee told cops searching garage was pointless… four days before her body was found beneath it
Ian Stewart, 56, allegedly murdered Helen, 51, in a plot to get his hands on her £4million fortune
THE man accused of killing kids’ author Helen Bailey told police “you won’t find anything in the garage” before her body was discovered in a cesspit beneath it, a court was told.
Ian Stewart, 56, was arrested on suspicion of his missing fiancee’s murder four days before she was found with her dead daschund Boris, who he had also killed at their £1.5million home in Royston, Herts, jurors heard.
In dashcam footage shown to a jury, Ian Stewart, 56, could be seen wearing only his dressing gown as he was cautioned by officers moments after being pulled from his bed.
Asked whether he understood that he was being arrested for his fiancee's death at around 7am on July 11 last year, Stewart said: "I guess so".
Four days later, Helen's body was found in an old well beneath the garage of the couple's home.
Stewart is accused of drugging and killing Helen to get his hands on her £4m fortune promised to him in her will.
The court heard how while on his way to the police station, Stewart asked officers "have you found her?
He was however told the investigation couldn't be discussed until he was formally interviewed.
The jury were also told yesterday how prior to his arrest, Stewart told police, "you won't find anything in the garage".
He allegedly claimed he "didn't know what good it would do" for search teams to scour the home he shared with Helen.
Giving evidence at St Albans' Crown Court Detective constable Hollie Daines said Stewart "became upset" when they asked to search the house and "did not consent to the search taking place."
She said: "He started to ask a lot of questions, specifically what we were going to be searching for.
"He said he was getting fed up with all this now. We explained again the reasons why we wanted to search the house, and he said 'you keep saying it's the last time'.
"He became upset, his breathing increased and he began rubbing his forehead. He appeared to be anxious and uncomfortable with what we were asking of him.
"He went on to say that 'you won't find anything in the garage, if anywhere, devices will be in the house'.
"We'd spoken that searches would be conducted in the garage and the house.
"He continued to air concern about officers searching the house, saying he didn't see what good it would do.
"Stewart said he did not consent to the search taking place. Stewart didn't seem happy about them going to the garage.
"He said if 'Helen does come back, I don't want to be with her anymore'.
"I took that in the context of what he was going through."
related stories
DC Daines told the jury that Stewart became a suspect on June 27, 2016, after he claimed to have lost his mobile phone when asked to supply it to police.
"He didn't want to give up his mobile phone at that stage," she said.
"We were then told Stewart was regarded as a suspect."