Another Death Probed Over Dentist Murder Case

Investigations into the affairs of a murder-accused dentist have been given a further twist.

Police have confirmed they are investigating another death in connection with Colin Howell, who has already been charged with two murders.

They said that the death of Alexandra Hickman-Smith, 27 - who was found dead in a caravan in Castlerock last November - is now being probed.

Her family was told at the time that she had died from diabetes. However, police said the death was "not being treated as suspicious at the moment".

The investigation team is looking into the death of the mother-of-two who was found on the same caravan site where Colin Howell had been staying after leaving his luxury home and current American wife in Castlerock.

Her body was found by police at her caravan at Sea Road when her mother raised the alarm after she failed to return home to Carrickfergus from a weekend trip.

Mr Howell, 50, from Castlerock, is already charged with murdering his wife Lesley and RUC officer Trevor Buchanan.

Their bodies were found in a fume-filled car in Castlerock in May 1991, an at the time, a coroner's court ruled that both had committed suicide.

Mr Buchanan's former wife Hazel Stewart is also charged with the murders.

Detectives are also re-examining the death of Lesley Howell's father, Henry Clarke, who died five days before his daughter's death - apparently from a heart attack or some form of seizure.

A police spokesman said on Monday their investigation remained focused on the double murders but "a number of lines of enquiry are being conducted into a range of other issues and events".

Mr Howell, of Sea Road, Castlerock, has also been charged with indecent assault and administering an overpowering drug with intent to commit indecent assault on dates between March 1998 and December 2008.

(BMcC/JM)