Ex-lovers Howell and Stewart deny murdering spouses

Standing in the dock of Antrim Crown Court, sitting in Belfast on Friday, Colin David Howell, 51, pleaded not guilty to murdering his wife Lesley Ann Elizabeth Howell and Trevor Andrew Buchanan on a date unknown between 18 and 20 May, 1991.

Stood alongside him in the dock wearing a black coat, white shirt and black trousers, Howell's former lover Hazel Roberta Stewart, 47, who spoke in a soft, barely audible voice, also pleaded not guilty to murdering her police officer husband and Howell's wife.

The families of their alleged murder victims sat just feet away from them behind the glass partition of the public gallery in court 13 throughout the short, five minute hearing.

The bodies of Leslie Howell and Trevor Buchanan were found in a fume-filled car in Castlerock on 19 May 1991.

A coroner originally ruled that Mrs Howell and RUC constable Trevor Buchanan had taken their own lives, but the case was reopened after new information was given to the police.

Dentist Howell, from Sea Road, Castlerock and Stewart, from Ballystrone Road, Coleraine, were having an affair at the time.

On Friday, prosecuting QC Ciaran Murphy told Mr Justice Hart that from the Crown perspective, the only outstanding matter was a financial report regarding Mr Howell but that they were ready to react to any potential medical reports on the defendants.

Defence QC's Stephen Fowler, acting for Stewart and Richard Weir, acting on behalf of Howell, said they would both be seeking medical reports into their respective clients.

Mr Justice Hart told the lawyers he would notify them of a potential trial date in the next few days but said they should expect the date to be in the Autumn, after the mid-term break but that he would review the case again at the end of June.

Stewart was released on bail and Howell was remanded back into custody.