No Howell questioning over death

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Police will not question a Castlerock dentist accused of two murders about the death of a woman in a caravan in Castlerock last November.

Colin Howell, 50, is charged with murdering his wife Lesley and RUC officer Trevor Buchanan.

In March, police confirmed that the death of Alexandra Hickman-Smith, 27, was also being re-examined.

On Sunday, police said officers would not be seeking to interview Mr Howell in connection with her death.

In an interview with the Sunday Life newspaper Ms Hickman-Smith's father, Norman McGookin, said the family was relieved there was no foul play suspected in her death.

At the time of the mother-of-two's death her family was told she had died from diabetes and that it was not being treated as suspicious.

"We're all heartbroken, and now hopefully we can get on with our lives," he said.

Mr Howell had been living at the same caravan site as Ms Hickman-Smith for a time during 2008.

The bodies of Mrs Howell and Mr Buchanan were found in a fume-filled car in Castlerock in May 1991, and at the time, a coroner's court ruled that both had committed suicide.

Mr Buchanan's former wife Hazel Stewart is also charged with the murders.

Detectives are also re-examining the death of Lesley Howell's father, Henry Clarke, who died five days before his daughter's death - apparently from a heart attack or some form of seizure.

Mr Howell, of Sea Road, Castlerock, has also been charged with indecent assault and administering an overpowering drug with intent to commit indecent assault on dates between March 1998 and December 2008.

In February, at least 200 letters were sent to former patients of Mr Howell by police seeking help with their investigation.

In June police investigating the dentist searched a lake and grounds of a house in Castlerock.