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New Horror Drama Added To Netflix Is Based On Chilling Real Life Murders

Lucy Devine

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| Last updated 

New Horror Drama Added To Netflix Is Based On Chilling Real Life Murders

A chilling drama starring James Nesbitt has recently been added to Netflix - and viewers are just finding out it's based on real life events.

The four-part series called The Secret - which originally aired on ITV in 2016 - tells the story of the real-life double murder of Lesley Howell and Trevor Buchanan.

You can watch the trailer below:

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The tragic murder took place in Castlerock, Londonderry, in Northern Ireland back in 1991. Colin Howell, Lesley Howell's husband, and Hazel Buchanan - who was married to Trevor Buchanan - were responsible for both of the deaths, which they made look like a suicide pact.

Hazel and Colin had started an affair just a year prior to the murders, which took place in May 1991.

At the devastating scene, Lesley was found holding photos of her four children, along with Trevor, in a car filled with exhaust fumes. It's reported that Colin had murdered Lesley with a garden hose connected to a car's exhaust pipe while she was sleeping.

Meanwhile, Trevor had been drugged with a spiked sandwich by Hazel, before being killed by Colin, using the same hose.

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The pair were then positioned in the vehicle where the deaths were made to appear like a suicide.

James Nesbitt stars in the chilling series. Credit: ITV/Netflix
James Nesbitt stars in the chilling series. Credit: ITV/Netflix

Their murders went undetected for 18 years before Colin finally confessed nearly two decades later.

His eldest son, Matthew, had died in an accident at the age of 22, and Colin had lost hundreds of thousands of pounds in a scam. It's believed Colin thought God was punishing him, which led to his confession many years later.

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Colin was sentenced to a minimum of 21 years, while Hazel was sentenced to 18 years. While Colin is currently in Maghaberry Prison, Hazel remains in Hydebank Prison in Belfast.

In the ITV drama, now on Netflix, James Nesbitt plays Colin while Genevieve O'Reilly plays Hazel. Meanwhile, Laura Pyper plays Lesley and Glen Wallace plays Trevor.

Genevieve O'Reilly plays Hazel. Credit: ITV/Netflix
Genevieve O'Reilly plays Hazel. Credit: ITV/Netflix

Many viewers are watching the series for the first time, with one writing on Twitter: "The Secret on #Netflix was a really good watch, played out so well by James Nesbitt & Genevieve O'Reilly so sad to think this actually was a true story."

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While another said: "Watching The Secret on Netflix. A true story which makes it more shocking."

And a third added: "I was shook. True story as well."

You can watch all episodes of The Secret on Netflix now.

Featured Image Credit: Netflix/ITV

Topics: TV and Film, True Crime, Netflix

Lucy Devine
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