{{Short description|1991 double murder in Northern Ireland}} {{Use Hiberno-English|date=January 2026}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2026}} {{Infobox event | name = Murders of Lesley Howell and Trevor Buchanan | image = Lesley Howell and Trevor Buchanan.jpg | date = {{start date|1991|5|18|df=yes}} | type = Murder; staged suicide pact }} On 18 May 1991, '''Lesley Howell''' (31) and '''Trevor Buchanan''' (32) were murdered in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, in a staged double killing carried out by Howell's husband, Colin Howell, who sought to disguise their deaths as a suicide pact. At the time, Colin Howell had resumed an {{nowrap|extra-marital}} affair with Buchanan’s wife, Hazel; in his later confession, he stated that the affair formed part of the circumstances leading to the killings. The case remained officially closed for almost two decades until Colin Howell confessed in 2009, leading to his conviction and that of Hazel (by then Stewart). The killings, subsequent investigation and later trials attracted significant public attention and were later dramatised in the ITV series ''The Secret'', broadcast in April and May 2016. The confession tape was broadcast in a BBC documentary in January 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Telford |first=Lyndsey |date=2026-01-20 |title=Colin Howell's confession tapes to be aired for first time |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy8yvl082y4o |access-date=2026-01-20 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB |archive-date=20 January 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260120070819/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy8yvl082y4o |url-status=live }}</ref>
== Background == Lesley Howell (née Clarke) and Trevor Buchanan were both members of the same Baptist church community in Coleraine, where their families were closely involved in congregational life.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-foyle-west-11784184 |title=Dentist Colin Howell Admits Double Murder |date=18 November 2010 |work=BBC News |access-date=31 March 2019 |archive-date=31 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331151730/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-foyle-west-11784184 |url-status=live }}</ref> Lesley, who had married Colin Howell in 1983 and had four young children, was active within the church and part of a wider network of families. Trevor, an RUC officer, lived nearby with his wife Hazel and their two children, and the Buchanans were similarly engaged in church activities.
In 1990, an extra‑marital relationship began between Hazel and Colin. The affair, which caused significant strain within both households, was discovered by their spouses and by members of the church congregation. Although it appeared to end after becoming public, the relationship resumed in early 1991.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-24978359|title=Colin Howell's estranged wife 'will not face charges'|date=17 November 2013|work=BBC News|language=en-GB|access-date=15 December 2016|archive-date=3 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170203201708/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-24978359|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="judgement">{{cite web|url=https://www.judiciaryni.uk/files/judiciaryni/decisions/Queen%20v%20Howell%20%28Colin%20David%29.pdf|title=THE QUEEN v COLIN DAVID HOWELL (2010) |work=JudiciaryNI }}</ref>
== Murders and aftermath == On the night of 18 May 1991, while the couple's young children slept, Colin murdered his wife at their home by attaching a garden hose to the exhaust of his Renault Savanna, feeding the hose into the house, and holding it close to his sleeping wife's face while the engine was running. Lesley awoke and cried out for her eldest son, Matthew, at which point Colin restrained her until she died from carbon‑monoxide poisoning.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |url= https://www.colerainetimes.co.uk/news/revealed-how-evil-dentist-colin-howell-killed-his-wife-and-husband-former-lover-2810988|title=How evil dentist killed his wife and lover's husband |date=1 December 2010 |work=Coleraine Times |access-date=25 March 2021}}</ref>
He placed her body in the boot of the car, covered it with a bicycle, and then drove to the Buchanans' home, where he repeated the process. After placing Trevor's body in the vehicle, Colin drove towards his father‑in‑law's house, stopping en route to leave the bicycle at a nature reserve. On arriving in Castlerock, he backed the car into the garage, positioned the bodies inside the vehicle, ran the hose into the car, and turned on the ignition. He then ran along Castlerock beach to avoid being seen, burned the clothes he had been wearing, and cycled home.<ref name=":0" />
Following his wife's death, Colin received an insurance payout of £400,000. He later married Kyle Jorgensen, a native of New York, with whom he had five children.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/killer-dentist-colin-howell-got-payout-of-400000-after-death-of-wife-28589652.html|title=Killer dentist Colin Howell got payout of £400,000 after death of wife|work=Belfast Telegraph|date=17 February 2011|author=McAleese, Deborah|access-date=26 September 2018|archive-date=23 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623061709/https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/killer-dentist-colin-howell-got-payout-of-400000-after-death-of-wife-28589652.html|url-status=live}}</ref> His former brother‑in‑law has since accused him of murdering Harry Clarke, Colin's father‑in‑law, who died only eleven days before Lesley.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-12643326|title=Man suspects Colin Howell over father's death|date=4 March 2011|work=BBC News|language=en-GB|access-date=15 December 2016|archive-date=10 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181110144353/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-12643326|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8358560/Killer-dentists-father-in-law-may-have-been-his-third-victim.html|title=Killer dentist's father-in-law 'may have been his third victim'|work=The Daily Telegraph|author=Bingham, John|date=3 March 2011|access-date=15 December 2016|archive-date=22 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222135439/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8358560/Killer-dentists-father-in-law-may-have-been-his-third-victim.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
In May 2007, Lesley's and Colin's eldest son, 22-year-old Matthew, died in Russia after he fell four floors from an apartment block in St Petersburg.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2 May 2007|title=Student falls to his death in Russia|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-30308925.html|newspaper=Irish Examiner|language=en|archive-date=18 August 2025|access-date=26 June 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250818174330/https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-30308925.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
== Philippines scam == In 2008, Colin lost £350,000 in a get-rich-quick scheme that claimed to have located Yamashita's gold in the Philippines.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-24978359|title=Colin Howell's estranged wife 'will not face charges'|date=17 November 2013|work=BBC News|access-date=13 December 2016|archive-date=21 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221004356/http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-24978359|url-status=live}}</ref> He had been led to believe he would make £20 million; instead, he received only a few brass ammunition boxes containing silver coins worth about £30.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/killer-dentist-colin-howell-failed-hunt-for-japans-war-gold-triggered-my-confession-28590107.html|title=Killer dentist Colin Howell: Failed hunt for Japan's war gold triggered my confession|work=Belfast Telegraph|date=18 February 2011|access-date=31 March 2019|archive-date=31 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331154255/https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/killer-dentist-colin-howell-failed-hunt-for-japans-war-gold-triggered-my-confession-28590107.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Colin initially invested £100,000 but, over six months, continued to invest after being told that the gold was buried beneath booby-trapped tunnels. He sold his shares in two dental practices and attempted to persuade friends to invest.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/howell-conned-out-of-life-savings-28574522.html |title=Howell conned out of life savings |work=Belfast Telegraph |date=4 December 2010 |access-date=26 September 2018 |archive-date=23 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623061815/https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/howell-conned-out-of-life-savings-28574522.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
He later stated that both this financial loss and the death of his son were punishments from God.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-12606874|title=The secret life of Colin Howell|date=2 March 2011|work=BBC News|access-date=13 December 2016|archive-date=21 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221005941/http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-12606874|url-status=live}}</ref>
== Murder confession and convictions == In 2009, Colin confessed his role in the murders to elders in his church, who urged him to inform police.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-12733348|title=Inside the mind of Colin Howell|date=15 March 2011|work=BBC News|language=en-GB|access-date=15 December 2016|archive-date=29 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160629095539/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-12733348|url-status=live}}</ref> He pleaded guilty to the murders on 18 November 2010 and was sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 21 years before he could be considered for release.<ref>{{Cite news |author=<!--not stated, or generic Staff--> |title=Dentist Colin Howell jailed for 21 years for double murder |date=2010-12-04 |work=Daily Mirror |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/dentist-colin-howell-jailed-for-21-267165 |access-date=2025-03-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021051135/https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/dentist-colin-howell-jailed-for-21-267165 |archive-date=2012-10-21 |url-status=live}}</ref>
Hazel (née Elkin), who later married David Stewart after a seven-year relationship with Colin, claimed in court that she had acted under duress. She was found guilty of the murders of Lesley and Trevor in March 2011 and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 18 years.<ref>{{Cite news |author=<!--not stated, or generic Staff--> |title=Who is Hazel Stewart? |work=BBC News |department=Northern Ireland |date=2011-03-02 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-12383602 |access-date=2025-03-19 |archive-date=22 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241222162555/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-12383602 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |author=<!--not stated, or generic Staff--> |title=Hazel Stewart found guilty of murder |date=2011-03-03 |work=RTÉ |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0302/298225-stewarth/ |access-date=2025-03-19 |archive-date=22 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241222104837/https://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0302/298225-stewarth/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The trial judge stated that Hazel could have prevented Trevor's death.<ref>{{Cite news |author=<!--not stated, or generic Staff--> |title=Murderer Stewart could have saved husband |work=BBC News |department=Northern Ireland |date=2011-03-16 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-12756395 |access-date=2025-03-19 |archive-date=21 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241221162111/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-12756395 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Police investigators were later criticised for having overlooked several facts, most notably that the driver's window was open and that Trevor's leg was hanging out of the open car door; in addition, a witness had told police that Colin had previously attempted to murder his wife.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-16038375|title=Lesley Howell and Trevor Buchanan: police 'overlooked murder clues'|last=Weir|first=Nicola|date=6 December 2011|work=BBC News|language=en-GB|access-date=17 December 2016|archive-date=23 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160223061608/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-16038375|url-status=live}}</ref>
On 17 May 2011, Colin pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting nine female patients in his surgery over a period of several years.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/dentist-colin-howell-pleads-guilty-to-indecent-assaults-1.574319 | title=Dentist Colin Howell pleads guilty to indecent assaults | newspaper=The Irish Times | date=18 May 2011 | access-date=28 May 2016 | archive-date=24 June 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624143207/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/dentist-colin-howell-pleads-guilty-to-indecent-assaults-1.574319 | url-status=live }}</ref> He was subsequently stripped of his National Health Service pension.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/killer-dentist-colin-howells-587k-11249818|title=Killer Colin Howell's £587k pension axed after convictions for groping patients|last=Fitzmaurice|first=Maurice|date=27 April 2016|work=BelfastLive|access-date=13 December 2016|archive-date=20 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220155507/http://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/killer-dentist-colin-howells-587k-11249818|url-status=live}}</ref>
==See also== *''Let This Be Our Secret'' (2011 novel) *''The Secret'' (2016 miniseries)
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== *[https://www.judiciaryni.uk/files/judiciaryni/decisions/Queen%20v%20Howell%20%28Colin%20David%29.pdf THE QUEEN v COLIN DAVID HOWELL (2010)] - archived judgment text from trial of Colin Howell (JudiciaryNI)
{{Murders in the United Kingdom in the 1990s}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Howell, Colin}} Category:1959 births Category:Living people Category:British people convicted of murdering police officers Category:People convicted of murder by Northern Ireland Category:People from Northern Ireland convicted of indecent assault Category:People from Northern Ireland convicted of murder Category:Prisoners from Northern Ireland sentenced to life imprisonment Category:Prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment by Northern Ireland Category:People from Portadown