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13/01/2012
Stewart Faces Delay Over Double Murder Appeal
Hazel Stewart, who was convicted of double murder, may have to wait until the summer to hear if she can overturn her conviction.
Stewart was convicted of murdering her husband and her lover Colin Howell's wife 20 years ago.
A court appeal in Belfast has now heard that psychiatric evaluations of Stewart will not be ready until at least March and depending on what is returned in the assessment a second expert opinion may be needed.
The forty-eight-year-old is appealing against the verdict that she plotted with her lover, Howell, to kill their respective spouses.
The mother of two, currently being held at Hydebank Prison in Belfast, is still to apply directly to the Court of Appeal.
She is undergoing psychiatric and psychological examinations before a decision is made on whether to seek to introduce fresh evidence.
The Background
The victims were found in a fume-filled garage in Castlerock, Co Londonderry in May 1991.
Police originally believed they had died in a suicide pact after discovering that their partners were having an affair.
Stewart however twenty years later was jailed for a minimum of 18 years for the murders of her husband, Constable Trevor Buchanan, 32, and 31-year-old Lesley Howell, the wife of Colin Howell.
It took nearly two decades for the truth to emerge when Howell, 52, suddenly confessed to both killings.
He pleaded guilty to the murders in 2010 and is serving a minimum of 21 years in prison.
(LB)
Stewart was convicted of murdering her husband and her lover Colin Howell's wife 20 years ago.
A court appeal in Belfast has now heard that psychiatric evaluations of Stewart will not be ready until at least March and depending on what is returned in the assessment a second expert opinion may be needed.
The forty-eight-year-old is appealing against the verdict that she plotted with her lover, Howell, to kill their respective spouses.
The mother of two, currently being held at Hydebank Prison in Belfast, is still to apply directly to the Court of Appeal.
She is undergoing psychiatric and psychological examinations before a decision is made on whether to seek to introduce fresh evidence.
The Background
The victims were found in a fume-filled garage in Castlerock, Co Londonderry in May 1991.
Police originally believed they had died in a suicide pact after discovering that their partners were having an affair.
Stewart however twenty years later was jailed for a minimum of 18 years for the murders of her husband, Constable Trevor Buchanan, 32, and 31-year-old Lesley Howell, the wife of Colin Howell.
It took nearly two decades for the truth to emerge when Howell, 52, suddenly confessed to both killings.
He pleaded guilty to the murders in 2010 and is serving a minimum of 21 years in prison.
(LB)
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08 February 2013
Hazel Stewart Was 'Knowing And Willing' Accomplice
The Appeal Court has ruled Hazel Stewart was a "knowing and willing" participant in the murder of her husband and her former lover’s wife, the BBC has reported. Three senior judges have concluded she supported the double murder, carried out by former dentist Colin Howell, by providing him with assistance.
Hazel Stewart Was 'Knowing And Willing' Accomplice
The Appeal Court has ruled Hazel Stewart was a "knowing and willing" participant in the murder of her husband and her former lover’s wife, the BBC has reported. Three senior judges have concluded she supported the double murder, carried out by former dentist Colin Howell, by providing him with assistance.
23 February 2011
Killer Dentist 'Used Gas To Sedate Lovers'
A high profile murder trial 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 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.
21 January 2013
Hazel Stewart Drops Murder Appeal
Hazel Stewart has dropped an appeal against her conviction for murdering her husband over twenty years ago. The 49-year-old was involved in a ploy with her ex-lover, Colin Howell, to murder their respective spouses and pass it off as a suicide pact.
Hazel Stewart Drops Murder Appeal
Hazel Stewart has dropped an appeal against her conviction for murdering her husband over twenty years ago. The 49-year-old was involved in a ploy with her ex-lover, Colin Howell, to murder their respective spouses and pass it off as a suicide pact.
07 June 2011
Inquest Verdict 'Carbon Monoxide Poisoning'
A second inquest has today found that two people 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 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.
15 February 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.
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.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A largely cloudy day with occasional rain. Turning drier and brighter for a time in the afternoon and feeling very mild. Light southerly winds becoming strong with gales later along the County Down coast. Maximum temperature 13 °C.Tonight:Cloudy with outbreaks of rain, these heavy at times. Strong southerly winds, with gales in the evening across eastern counties, becoming westerly later. Minimum temperature 8 °C.
