Family of murdered Diane Stewart pay tribute to ‘amazing mum’ and ‘special person’

The family of murdered Diane Stewart have paid tribute to an “amazing mum” and “very special, caring person”.

Ian Stewart, 61, was today (Wednesday, February 9) found guilty of murdering his wife Mrs Stewart in the garden of the family home in Bassingbourn in 2010 by a jury at Huntingdon Crown Court.

Mr Justice Simon Bryan sentenced Stewart to a whole-life order, meaning he will never be released from prison.

Stewart was convicted at St Albans Crown Court in 2017 of secretly drugging and suffocating children’s author Helen Bailey. He was jailed for life with a minimum 34-year term.

Mrs Stewart’s sons Jamie and Oliver Stewart released a statement following today’s court result.

They said: “Our mum was amazing. All the people we have spoken to and things we have heard since her death have only enhanced this feeling. We were privileged to have a wonderful caring upbringing and we were supported through all the activities and hobbies that we undertook.

“It’s been really upsetting the last six years to have to recall the events of the toughest time of our life. “We now look forward to recalling the many happy moments we had growing up as a family. At this extremely difficult time, we wish for our privacy to be respected.”

Diane’s sister Wendy Bellamy-Lee and brother Christopher Lem added: “Diane was a very special, caring and capable person. She will always be greatly loved and hugely missed by her family and all who knew her.

“We have many happy memories of growing up together through the years and later having close bonds sharing our family lives together. Tragically she died far too soon, she will always be in our hearts. At this extremely difficult time, we request [that] we are left in peace.”