Colin Howell’s legal aid bill costs £56,000

COUNTY Londonderry killer dentist Colin Howell received legal aid of upwards of £56,000 during his trial for the murder of his wife Lesley Howell and his lover Hazel Stewart’s husband Trevor Buchanan in 1991.

Justice Minister David Ford revealed the extent of legal aid he obtained to defend the criminal case against him in response to an Assembly Question.

It follows his revelation last week that Hazel Stewart was in receipt of legal aid and that to date £13,135.10 of this has been paid.

Stewart’s £13k sum relates only to legal representation in the Magistrates Court with the Crown Court legal aid bill likely to exceed £62,000.

Now the Minister has stated: “Colin Howell was granted criminal legal aid for legal representation in the Magistrates’ Court and in the Crown Court . “To date, the bills received and paid for legal representation in the magistrates’ court amount to £32,050.35 (excluding VAT of £4,507.30). All bills from counsel have not yet been submitted and therefore the total costs will be greater.

“The Legal Services Commission has not received any bills for assessment for Colin Howell’s trial in the Crown Court. However, a provisional estimate indicates that the cost is unlikely to be less than £24,000 (including VAT).”

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