The partner of missing novelist Helen Bailey was charged today with her murder .
Ian Stewart, 55, spoke only to confirm his name when he appeared briefly in the glass-panelled dock before magistrates in Hatfield, Hertfordshire.
He is charged with murdering Helen, 51, on April 11, perverting the course of justice and preventing lawful burial.
No bail application was made and he was remanded in custody to appear at St Albans Crown Court on Monday.
The body of Helen , whose books include the Electra Brown series of stories for teenagers, was found last week in the garden of her £1.3million seven-bedroom home in Royston, Herts.
She was last seen walking her miniature dachshund, Boris.
Stewart, who had said he was “shattered” after her disappearance, was arrested on suspicion of murder last Monday and re-arrested yesterday.
Police teams were still searching the Royston property today.
A police spokesman said: “Following an investigation, a man has been charged with murdering 51-year-old author Helen Bailey in Royston.
“Ian Stewart, who is 55 years old and from Royston, was also charged with two further offences.
“A post-mortem is due to take place on Monday and specialist searches at her home continue.”
Helen’s husband John Sinfield drowned while on holiday in Barbados in 2011.
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