DENTIST COLIN Howell dropped an electric cable into his wife’s bathwater weeks before he murdered her and the husband of his then lover, Coleraine Crown Court has heard.
Howell, now serving a 21-year sentence after he confessed to the 1991 killings two years ago, used carbon-monoxide fumes to poison his wife Lesley Howell and Trevor Buchanan, the husband of Hazel Stewart (47), of Ballystrone Road, Coleraine, with whom he had been having an affair. Ms Stewart denies the murders.
The prosecution claims she was closely involved in Howell’s plan to murder their respective spouses so they could be together, and that she did nothing to stop it.
Jurors heard testimony from a series of witnesses who knew the murder victims, and heard them voice their doubts that the deaths were suicide.
Friends of the two couples told the jury of three women and nine men of their suspicions. Despite reporting their concerns to police at the time it was later concluded the pair had taken their lives in a suicide pact because of the public knowledge of the affair between Howell and the defendant.
Dr Alan Topping, a friend of the Buchanans, told the court: “I don’t think everyone did believe it was suicide. I thought it was suspicious, but I couldn’t work out how it was done.”
Dr Topping’s wife, Margaret Topping, who said she was close to Ms Howell, told the court Colin Howell had dropped a live electric cable into his wife’s bathwater some weeks before her death, causing her an electric shock.
Ms Topping said: “She told me, almost laughing. She said it was so awful he could not have meant it. But she told me so that I would know.” She said Ms Howell was distraught about the affair, yet believed it would end and that the Howells would start afresh and renew their vows.
The court heard the police were told of the bathroom incident, and of claims Howell had been giving sedatives to his wife.
However, a former RUC detective told the court no one raised suspicions over the deaths with him. Jack Hutchinson, a former detective inspector, denied doubts about the case were brought to him. “People felt bad about what had happened, but nobody made any categoric insinuations of criminal complicity,” he said.
On Tuesday, the court heard testimony from another former RUC officer who said he told colleagues of his suspicions in the case.
He told the court about his visit to the site where the bodies were found. “I was just unhappy with the scene and really became suspicious about the whole thing. I believed something had happened which was not good and obviously the suspicion fell on Mr Howell.”
A church colleague of Howell told the court that, at about the time of the funerals, Howell gave him a letter to pass on to Hazel Stewart, then Buchanan.
Derek McAuley said he thought the dentist was still pursuing the defendant, despite being counselled to the contrary by their pastor. He steamed open the envelope and photocopied the letter before passing it to the defendant.
Reading it to the jury, Howell’s letter appealed to the defendant to make up her mind about their future together. It said: “I have taken a mother from her children but God will provide another for them. I only hope and pray that it will be you.”
Mr McAuley said he thought this was a reference to the effect of their affair and did not convey any suspicions to the police at the time. The trial continues.