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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Judge rules against Hazel Stewart appeal | Judge rules against Hazel Stewart appeal |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Hazel Stewart has insufficient grounds to appeal her conviction for murdering her policeman husband and ex-lover's wife, a judge has ruled. | Hazel Stewart has insufficient grounds to appeal her conviction for murdering her policeman husband and ex-lover's wife, a judge has ruled. |
| Stewart was jailed for at least 18 years for murdering Trevor Buchanan, 32, and 31-year-old Lesley Howell. | Stewart was jailed for at least 18 years for murdering Trevor Buchanan, 32, and 31-year-old Lesley Howell. |
| The preliminary decision was reached on papers submitted by the new legal team representing the 48-year-old. | The preliminary decision was reached on papers submitted by the new legal team representing the 48-year-old. |
| But the mother of two is still to go directly to the Court of Appeal in an attempt to have her conviction quashed. | But the mother of two is still to go directly to the Court of Appeal in an attempt to have her conviction quashed. |
| Her solicitor described the refusal by a single judge of leave to appeal as a "minor setback". | Her solicitor described the refusal by a single judge of leave to appeal as a "minor setback". |
| The victims were found in a fume-filled garage in Castlerock, County Londonderry in May 1991. | The victims were found in a fume-filled garage in Castlerock, County Londonderry in May 1991. |
| Gassed to death | Gassed to death |
| Police originally believed they had died in a suicide pact after discovering their partners were having an affair. | Police originally believed they had died in a suicide pact after discovering their partners were having an affair. |
| They were in fact gassed to death before their bodies were arranged to make it look like they had taken their own lives. | They were in fact gassed to death before their bodies were arranged to make it look like they had taken their own lives. |
| It took nearly two decades for the truth to emerge when Stewart's former lover Colin Howell, 52, suddenly confessed to both killings. | It took nearly two decades for the truth to emerge when Stewart's former lover Colin Howell, 52, suddenly confessed to both killings. |
| He pleaded guilty to the murders last year and is serving a minimum 21 years prison sentence. | He pleaded guilty to the murders last year and is serving a minimum 21 years prison sentence. |
| Howell also implicated his former lover in the plot and gave evidence against her at her trial. | Howell also implicated his former lover in the plot and gave evidence against her at her trial. |
| In March a jury at Coleraine Crown Court found Stewart guilty on two counts of murder. | In March a jury at Coleraine Crown Court found Stewart guilty on two counts of murder. |
| Lawyers for Stewart applied to a single judge for leave to appeal against conviction and sentence. | Lawyers for Stewart applied to a single judge for leave to appeal against conviction and sentence. |
| But following an in-chambers assessment of the papers a determination has been reached that the application should be refused. | But following an in-chambers assessment of the papers a determination has been reached that the application should be refused. |
| 'Minor setback' | 'Minor setback' |
| However, it does not represent a fatal blow in Stewart's attempt to clear her name. | However, it does not represent a fatal blow in Stewart's attempt to clear her name. |
| She can still apply directly to the Court of Appeal for leave to challenge the verdict. Any hearing is expected to be several months off. | She can still apply directly to the Court of Appeal for leave to challenge the verdict. Any hearing is expected to be several months off. |
| Her solicitor, Michael McGee of Hasson and Co in Londonderry, said: "The judge's ruling was not unexpected. However, we are proceeding with the appeal and are confident of a positive outcome despite this minor setback. | |
| "The appeal process is still at an early stage and we are continuing with our assessment of the issues with a view to overturning the convictions. | "The appeal process is still at an early stage and we are continuing with our assessment of the issues with a view to overturning the convictions. |
| "We can confirm that no date for the hearing of the appeal has been set." | "We can confirm that no date for the hearing of the appeal has been set." |