The case, which lay dormant for nearly two decades, was originally dismissed as a tragic suicide pact. However, the tapes reveal a far more calculated and sinister reality. Howell’s admissions don’t just detail the “how,” but provide a disturbing look into the “why,” highlighting a psychological profile that prioritised personal gratification over human life.
The “Relief Factor” vs. Remorse
One of the most jarring aspects of the newly released audio is Howell’s clinical tone. When describing the aftermath of murdering his wife, Lesley Howell, and his lover’s husband, Trevor Buchanan, he famously told detectives that his primary emotion wasn’t guilt, but a profound sense of lightness.
This statement underscores the “dark triad” personality traits often associated with Howell. According to the tapes, the burden of maintaining a double life and the logistical hurdles of his affair with Hazel Stewart were the only things weighing on him. Once the victims were eliminated, he felt he could finally “breathe,” despite the blood on his hands.
How a Suicide Attempt “Planted the Seed”
The documentary highlights a pivotal moment in the timeline: Lesley Howell’s genuine distress. When Lesley discovered Colin’s infidelity with Hazel Stewart, she was devastated. In a tragic irony, her attempt to take her own life provided Colin with the “inspiration” he needed to frame her eventual murder as a suicide.
Howell explained to the police that seeing Lesley in the hospital having her stomach pumped didn’t evoke sympathy. Instead, it triggered a tactical thought process. He viewed her vulnerability as a convenient narrative tool. He told police, “When Lesley did the suicide attempt, that planted the seed that would be good for me if that happened.”
The Execution: A Shared Conspiracy
While Hazel Stewart has often attempted to frame herself as a victim of coercive control, Howell’s testimony paints a picture of a partnership. He detailed how they coordinated the killings to occur as close together as possible, ensuring the “suicide pact” story would hold up under police scrutiny.
- The Method: Howell used his technical knowledge to pipe carbon monoxide fumes from a car into the house.
- The Accomplice: He claims Hazel’s role was “clearing up,” including destroying the evidence by burning the hosepipe sections in her fireplace.
- The Final Act: Howell even admitted to dressing Trevor Buchanan’s body and posing the victims in a car at Castlerock to create a “peaceful” tableau of death.
The Haunting Memory of Matthew
Despite his cold demeanor, Howell admitted to one moment of hesitation. As he was gassing Lesley, she briefly stirred from her drug-induced sleep and called out for their five-year-old son, Matthew. It is a memory Howell claims “haunts” him—though critics argue this “remorse” only surfaced after his life fell apart due to financial ruin and the death of Matthew in a tragic accident years later.
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