David you're wrong about the twins/CC right to inherit.
I've set out the laws of intestacy here with links to Gov websites. See above.
Basically every named main beneficiary in the wills had either died (NB, June and SC) or forfeited his right to inherit due to the crimes he was found guilty of (JB).
Effectively this meant the Bambers died intestate ie no valid will. Therefore the laws of intestacy kick in. Given others also predeceased NB and June eg twins, NB's parents and siblings others took their place: June's estate fell to her mother and NB's to his niece and nephew: Jackie Wood and Anthony Pargeter. Was Roland Pargeter related to NB by blood or marriage? I can't recall now. If the former then he should have had some entitlement too.
I've also explained how a 'deed of variation works' which is what I think may have happened in this case with June's mother. Mrs Speakman was in her 90's, frail and wealthy in her own right so I guess this is the reason it went to AE and DB. I think PB said she didn't want to gain financially from the tragedy and in any event she was in her 60's, wealthy in her own right and likely to have been the main beneficiary of her mother's estate. Bearing in mind inheritance tax was charged at 40% on chargeable assets over 67k.
On reflection I haven't explained the above very well!
I posted:
"Given others also predeceased NB and June eg twins,..."
Obviously this is the hub of the argument ie the relatives et al were keen to establish order of death to gain financially.
I've explained all the main named beneficiaries in the wills either died during the tragedy or forfeited his right to inherit due to the crimes he was found guilty of. Therefore the laws of intestacy kick in:
https://www.gov.uk/inherits-someone-dies-without-will/y/england-and-wales/noThe link takes users through a decision like tree.
With the question:
"Are there any living children, grandchildren or other direct descendants eg (great-grandchildren)?
The answer is obviously 'NO'. Therefore it moves on. The beneficiaries for NB's estate are living nephews and nieces
and for June's her mother.
Beneficiaries are able to waive their rights by completing a 'deed of variation' which is what may have happened here. Why would a beneficiary such as June's mother and/or those advising her want substantial assets arriving in her estate when she was frail (bed ridden?) and in her 90's? She may well have been reducing her estate over recent years to reduce inheritance tax.
Everyone seems to forget there are very few certainties in life other than death and taxes.
The Bamber estate was valued at some 400k - 500k gross but what was the value after debts and taxes? Capital Gains Tax and Inheritance Tax?