A dentist and his ex-lover accused of murdering their partners in Northern Ireland 19 years ago are to undergo further psychiatric examinations, a court heard today.
New medical reports on Dr Colin Howell and Hazel Stewart are to be prepared before their trial begins later this year, Belfast Crown Court was told.
The pair stood in the dock before Mr Justice Hart and pleaded not guilty to the murders of Dr Howell’s Plymouth-born wife Lesley, who was trained as a nurse at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, and Stewart’s first husband, police officer Trevor Buchanan.
Their bodies were found in a car filled with carbon monoxide fumes in the seaside town of Castlerock, Co Derry, in May 1991.
The trial, expected to last between three and four weeks, is due to begin in mid-November, but before then fresh psychiatric tests are to be conducted and reports submitted by early September.
Apart from replying “not guilty” when they were formally arraigned, Dr Howell (51) of Glebe Road, Castlerock, and Stewart (47) of Ballystrone Road, Coleraine, Co Derry, did not speak during 10-minute hearing.
Dr Howell, smartly dressed in a shirt, tie and sports jacket, stood to attention, while Ms Stewart, a mother-of-two, dressed in black coat over a white blouse and slacks, looked straight ahead with her hands clasped.
Ms Stewart has been on out on bail since she and Howell were arrested by police in January last year when detectives reopened an investigation into the two deaths.
Ms Stewart had to surrender her passport and report daily to the police. Dr Howell is being held on remand at Maghaberry Prison, near Lisburn, Co Antrim, where he has already been examined by psychiatrist Dr Helen Harbinson.
It emerged during today’s hearing that he is undergo further tests by Dr Philip Joseph, a psychiatrist from England, who has been called in by his legal team which is led by Richard Weir QC. Dr Christine Kennedy is to examine Ms Stewart and then both accused will face further tests by Dr Fred Brown on behalf of the Crown.
Ms Stewart is being defended by Stephen Fowler QC and both he and Mr Weir confirmed to Judge Hart that there were some outstanding medical reports to be obtained. It is still not clear whether the trial will be held in Belfast or Antrim.
At the time of the deaths police believed the two had died as a result of suicide pact after their partners owned up to having an affair. An inquest a year later determined the cause of death as poisoning by carbon monoxide.
PA