Colin Howell
Encyclopedia
Colin Howell is a Northern Irish
convicted double murderer.
Howell killed his wife Leslie (née Clarke) and the husband of his lover, Trevor Buchanan (who was a RUC
officer), in what appeared to be a suicide pact between two lovers. The bodies were found in a fume-filled car in Castlerock
on May 19, 1991.
Howell, a dentist by occupation, was a deeply religious father of ten and a former lay preacher. He married Leslie in July 1983. They were members of the local Baptist
church. After his wife's death Howell remarried.
Howell confessed his role in the murders to elders in his church who urged him to inform police. He pleaded guilty to the murders on 18 November 2010 and was sentenced to life imprisonment. He was told he must serve a minimum 21 year jail term.
His former lover Hazel Stewart, a co-accused in the case, was found guilty of murder in March, 2011, and sentenced to life imprisonment.
On 17 May 2011 Howell pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting nine women patients in his surgery over a period of several years.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
convicted double murderer.
Howell killed his wife Leslie (née Clarke) and the husband of his lover, Trevor Buchanan (who was a RUC
Royal Ulster Constabulary
The Royal Ulster Constabulary was the name of the police force in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 2000. Following the awarding of the George Cross in 2000, it was subsequently known as the Royal Ulster Constabulary GC. It was founded on 1 June 1922 out of the Royal Irish Constabulary...
officer), in what appeared to be a suicide pact between two lovers. The bodies were found in a fume-filled car in Castlerock
Castlerock
Castlerock is a seaside village in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is situated between Coleraine and Derry and is very popular with summer tourists, having numerous apartment blocks and three caravan sites. Castlerock Golf Club has both 9 and 18-hole links courses bounded by the beach, the...
on May 19, 1991.
Howell, a dentist by occupation, was a deeply religious father of ten and a former lay preacher. He married Leslie in July 1983. They were members of the local Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
church. After his wife's death Howell remarried.
Howell confessed his role in the murders to elders in his church who urged him to inform police. He pleaded guilty to the murders on 18 November 2010 and was sentenced to life imprisonment. He was told he must serve a minimum 21 year jail term.
His former lover Hazel Stewart, a co-accused in the case, was found guilty of murder in March, 2011, and sentenced to life imprisonment.
On 17 May 2011 Howell pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting nine women patients in his surgery over a period of several years.