Colin Howell, a convicted double murderer, denied ownership of disturbing child pornography discovered on a computer that was found in his living quarters. The images were uncovered on January 30, 2009, more than 17 years after Howell murdered his wife Lesley and her husband, Trevor Buchanan. Howell, now 67, was confronted by investigators about the disturbing pictures of young children found on the computer.
A documentary titled “Confessions Of A Killer” sheds light on the tragic events surrounding Howell’s crimes, featuring original audio recordings from police interviews conducted after the murders in 1991. Howell’s confession not only initiated a fresh police inquiry but also led to his own conviction and that of his accomplice, Hazel Stewart, who is currently serving a life sentence alongside him.
In addition to the murder charges, Howell was also convicted in 2011 for sexually assaulting five female patients at his dental practice, resulting in an additional prison sentence and placement on the Sex Offenders Register for life. Despite these convictions, Howell was never prosecuted for the child pornography found on the computer seized during the investigation.
The exchange between Howell and the lead investigator of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) regarding the incriminating images highlights Howell’s denial of any involvement with such material. Howell vehemently claimed to have never encountered such images before and denied any knowledge of their existence on the computer found in his caravan.
“Confessions Of A Killer” is a two-part documentary created by Below The Radar Television with the support of Northern Ireland Screen. Both episodes will be accessible on Tuesday, January 20, at 6 am on BBC iPlayer, followed by the first episode airing on BBC One NI at 9 pm that evening. The documentary will also be broadcast on Sunday, January 25, on BBC Two at 9 pm.