Dentist Colin Howell admits double murder

Colin Howell pleaded guilty to two murders

A County Londonderry dentist has admitted murdering his wife and his former lover's husband 19 years ago.

Colin Howell, 51, of Glebe Road, Castlerock, admitted the charges at Belfast Crown Court.

Howell was due to stand trial next week for the murders of Trevor Buchanan, 32, and Mrs Lesley Howell, 31.

Mr Buchanan's former wife, Hazel Stewart, 47, of Ballystrone Road, Coleraine, is to go on trial accused of the murders next week.

She denies the charges.

The bodies of the victims were found in a fume-filled car in Castlerock in May 1991. At the time police believed they died in a suicide pact.

The case was reopened last year after new information was given to the police.

Howell, a father of 10 and a former lay preacher, was told in court that he would be jailed for life with his minimum term to be determined at a later hearing.

He is still facing a trial in December on 17 charges of indecent assault.