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15/02/2011
Bizarre Double Murder Trial Continues
Defence counsel for a Co Londonderry woman accused of freely taking part in the plot to kill her own husband and her then lover's wife, have claimed that dentist Colin Howell was forcing the accused, Hazel Stewart against her will to be complicit in the deadly plot.
The self-confessed killer dentist has already told Coleraine Crown Court he had been "an evil man" having admitted killing his wife, Lesley Howell and the husband of Mrs Stewart - policeman, Trevor Buchanan in May 1991.
RUC Constable Buchanan was married to Howell's former lover Hazel Stewart who is now accused of the same two murders.
On day six of her murder trial Howell said he had volunteered to give evidence because he wanted the truth of the murders to be known.
The former dentist admits he gassed his victims with car exhaust fumes and then staged their bodies to look like a double suicide.
But, under cross-examination he denied he had exerted a controlling influence over Stewart who, a defence barrister claimed "wanted no part in the murder plot".
But Howell dismissed suggestions he had acted as a "puppet master" who exerted a domineering influence on Stewart.
The bodies of Lesley Howell and Trevor Buchanan were found gassed by fumes in a car behind a row of houses in Castlerock, Co Londonderry more than 18 years ago.
Howell and his co-accused, as well as their partners, were all members of Coleraine Baptist Church at the time of the deaths.
A year after the police launched the original investigation, a Coroner's court inquest said the deaths were suicides, both victims having been poisoned by carbon monoxide fumes.
But, Howell revealed the true story many years later and pleaded his guilt when he appeared at Belfast Crown Court last November with his ex-lover Hazel Stewart now also standing trial for the murders.
See: Life Sentences For 'Suicide' Murders
The self-confessed killer dentist has already told Coleraine Crown Court he had been "an evil man" having admitted killing his wife, Lesley Howell and the husband of Mrs Stewart - policeman, Trevor Buchanan in May 1991.
RUC Constable Buchanan was married to Howell's former lover Hazel Stewart who is now accused of the same two murders.
On day six of her murder trial Howell said he had volunteered to give evidence because he wanted the truth of the murders to be known.
The former dentist admits he gassed his victims with car exhaust fumes and then staged their bodies to look like a double suicide.
But, under cross-examination he denied he had exerted a controlling influence over Stewart who, a defence barrister claimed "wanted no part in the murder plot".
But Howell dismissed suggestions he had acted as a "puppet master" who exerted a domineering influence on Stewart.
The bodies of Lesley Howell and Trevor Buchanan were found gassed by fumes in a car behind a row of houses in Castlerock, Co Londonderry more than 18 years ago.
Howell and his co-accused, as well as their partners, were all members of Coleraine Baptist Church at the time of the deaths.
A year after the police launched the original investigation, a Coroner's court inquest said the deaths were suicides, both victims having been poisoned by carbon monoxide fumes.
But, Howell revealed the true story many years later and pleaded his guilt when he appeared at Belfast Crown Court last November with his ex-lover Hazel Stewart now also standing trial for the murders.
See: Life Sentences For 'Suicide' Murders
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23 February 2011
Killer Dentist 'Used Gas To Sedate Lovers'
A high profile murder trial in the North has heard that the accused, Hazel Stewart, feared her former lover - a dentist - gave her too much laughing gas before a sex session on his dentist's chair. Mrs Stewart, 47, is denying murdering her husband, Trevor Buchanan, 32, and her former lover Colin Howell's wife, Leslie, 31, in May 1991.
Killer Dentist 'Used Gas To Sedate Lovers'
A high profile murder trial in the North has heard that the accused, Hazel Stewart, feared her former lover - a dentist - gave her too much laughing gas before a sex session on his dentist's chair. Mrs Stewart, 47, is denying murdering her husband, Trevor Buchanan, 32, and her former lover Colin Howell's wife, Leslie, 31, in May 1991.
07 June 2011
Inquest Verdict 'Carbon Monoxide Poisoning'
A second inquest has today found that two people in the North murdered by disgraced dentist, Colin Howell and his lover Hazel Stewart were the victims of "homicidal carbon monoxide poisoning". Trevor Buchanan, a 32-year-old policeman and Mrs Howell, 31, were found in a car in a fume-filled garage in the seaside town of Castlerock, Co Londonderry.
Inquest Verdict 'Carbon Monoxide Poisoning'
A second inquest has today found that two people in the North murdered by disgraced dentist, Colin Howell and his lover Hazel Stewart were the victims of "homicidal carbon monoxide poisoning". Trevor Buchanan, a 32-year-old policeman and Mrs Howell, 31, were found in a car in a fume-filled garage in the seaside town of Castlerock, Co Londonderry.
16 March 2011
'Suicide' Killer Gets 18 Years
Co Londonderry killer, Hazel Stewart has been sentenced to a minimum of 18 years in jail for the murders of her first husband and former lover's wife. Mrs Stewart, 49, was convicted earlier this month of the murders of Lesley Howell and Trevor Buchanan.
'Suicide' Killer Gets 18 Years
Co Londonderry killer, Hazel Stewart has been sentenced to a minimum of 18 years in jail for the murders of her first husband and former lover's wife. Mrs Stewart, 49, was convicted earlier this month of the murders of Lesley Howell and Trevor Buchanan.
04 May 2011
Howell Inquest To 'Set Record Straight'
The first phase of a new inquest into the deaths of Lesley Howell and Trevor Buchanan is now underway in the North. It aims to set the record straight after their respective partners were jailed for their murders, with a coroner's court hearing in Belfast told today that a second hearing will take place before the end of next month.
Howell Inquest To 'Set Record Straight'
The first phase of a new inquest into the deaths of Lesley Howell and Trevor Buchanan is now underway in the North. It aims to set the record straight after their respective partners were jailed for their murders, with a coroner's court hearing in Belfast told today that a second hearing will take place before the end of next month.
06 December 2011
RUC Double Suicide Murder Probe 'Failed'
Major failures in a high profile murder case 20 years ago have been criticised today. Despite evidence that one of the killers had made no less than three attempts to direct attention to the Co Londonderry garage where apparent 'suicide victims' were eventually found, police detectives in the North failed to ask why he had such prior knowledge.
RUC Double Suicide Murder Probe 'Failed'
Major failures in a high profile murder case 20 years ago have been criticised today. Despite evidence that one of the killers had made no less than three attempts to direct attention to the Co Londonderry garage where apparent 'suicide victims' were eventually found, police detectives in the North failed to ask why he had such prior knowledge.
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