Victory for double killer Stewart in legal aid battle

Hazel Stewart is serving a minimum 18-year sentence for murdering Trevor Buchanan and Lesley Howell

Convicted double killer Hazel Stewart has won her High Court action over being refused funding to defend a bid to reclaim police pension benefits inherited from her murdered first husband.

It was conceded that the decision to deny legal aid to the former Sunday School teacher on the basis of her second husband’s financial means was not properly taken.

A judge quashed the determination by consent and awarded Stewart her costs.

The outcome means legal aid authorities must reassess her eligibility for funding to defend civil proceedings.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) is seeking an order for her to repay money gained following the death of Trevor Buchanan.

Stewart, 53, is serving a minimum 18-year jail sentence for murdering Constable Buchanan, 32, and 31-year-old Lesley Howell, the wife of her ex-lover Colin Howell.

Efforts to recover money from her under proceeds of crime legislation have been hit by a series of delays due to the refusal of legal aid.

The convicted killer’s second husband, retired police superintendent David Stewart, is a joint respondent in the proceedings despite facing no allegations of any wrongdoing and being described in court as “entirely blameless”.

Legal aid authorities concluded that he should pay his wife’s bills in defending the claim.

The case centres on finances now tied up in the couple’s family home.