The family of Royston murderer Ian Stewart’s first wife today backed a police re-examination of her death.

Stewart, 56 and originally from Letchworth, was today sentenced to a minimum of 34 years behind bars after being found guilty of murdering his author fiancée Helen Bailey.

Motivated by the £4 million he stood to gain from her death, he drugged her for months before dumping her in a cesspit beneath their £1.5 million home.

Helen’s beloved dachshund Boris was also found in the cesspit beneath the house’s garage in Baldock Road.

DCI Jerome Kent, who led the investigation into the 51-year-old’s murder, has said he will now also be probing Diane Stewart’s death from an epileptic fit in 2010 – which was recorded by a coroner as being of natural causes.

Diane’s family said in a statement: “The last few months, watching the investigation and trial of Helen Bailey’s murder, has been a difficult time for our family.

“We didn’t know Helen but our sympathy goes out to all of her family and friends – we cannot imagine what they have been through and how they are feeling.

“We are fully aware of the re-examination of Diane’s death and support the police in their actions, and would like to thank the police for how they have supported our family during this difficult time.

“While their work is ongoing we do not wish to make any further comment.”

Passing sentence at St Albans Crown Court today, Judge Andrew Bright told Stewart – who declined to return to court – that it was ‘difficult to imagine a more heinous crime’.

Ian Stewart’s sons Jamie and Oliver have also today released a statement, asking for privacy.

They said: “We understand a significant investigation has been carried out since Helen went missing.

“Understandably this is an extremely difficult time for us and we have no further comment to make.”

DCI Kent said this week that ‘it would be quite right’ for him to look again at Diane’s death.