THE TRIAL OF A WOMAN charged with murdering her husband and her former lover’s wife has been delayed following a statement by her co-accused.

Hazel Stewart, 47, denies murdering Trevor Buchanan and Lesley Howell in May 1991, the BBC reports.

Her co-accused, Colin Howell, 51, of Castlerock, Co Derry, has already been convicted and sentenced for the two murders.

The two accused had been having an affair before the deaths of their spouses.

Police initially suspected the deaths were the result of a suicide pact, but reopened the case after new evidence came to light last year.

Last week, Howell pleaded guilty to both counts of murder in Belfast Crown Court. He was subsequently convicted and received two life sentences.

Today, the court heard that Stewart’s trial will be adjourned to allow her legal team examine a statement Howell made to police. Stewart’s solicitor said there was a large amount of detail to be examined, including medical and psychiatric records, according to the Belfast Telegraph.

The trial is not expected to resume until after Christmas.