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Northallerton needle attack nurse guilty of attempted murder | |
(14 days later) | |
Darren Harris stabbed Gary Lewis with syringe containing a muscle-relaxing anaesthetic | Darren Harris stabbed Gary Lewis with syringe containing a muscle-relaxing anaesthetic |
A nurse who injected a record shop owner with a muscle-relaxing anaesthetic has been found guilty of attempted murder. | A nurse who injected a record shop owner with a muscle-relaxing anaesthetic has been found guilty of attempted murder. |
Darren Harris stabbed Gary Lewis in the buttocks with a syringe containing rocuronium at the Betterdaze shop in Northallerton on 2 July last year. | Darren Harris stabbed Gary Lewis in the buttocks with a syringe containing rocuronium at the Betterdaze shop in Northallerton on 2 July last year. |
Mr Lewis was left "in a state of paralysis" and nearly died from the attack, Leeds Crown Court heard during the trial. | Mr Lewis was left "in a state of paralysis" and nearly died from the attack, Leeds Crown Court heard during the trial. |
Harris, 58 and from Middlesbrough, will be sentenced by Judge Simon Phillips KC on 13 March. | Harris, 58 and from Middlesbrough, will be sentenced by Judge Simon Phillips KC on 13 March. |
The incident happened at Gary Lewis' record shop in Northallerton last July | The incident happened at Gary Lewis' record shop in Northallerton last July |
Harris was a nurse for 24 years and got the rocuronium from his workplace at the James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough, the court heard. | Harris was a nurse for 24 years and got the rocuronium from his workplace at the James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough, the court heard. |
He denied attempted murder and grievous bodily harm with intent, but admitted administering a noxious substance. | He denied attempted murder and grievous bodily harm with intent, but admitted administering a noxious substance. |
Harris did not give evidence during the trial, but the jury heard recordings of his interview with police. | Harris did not give evidence during the trial, but the jury heard recordings of his interview with police. |
He told them he had been aggrieved after visiting Betterdaze to sell Mr Lewis some of his own records on 29 May. | He told them he had been aggrieved after visiting Betterdaze to sell Mr Lewis some of his own records on 29 May. |
He said they had had an altercation and Mr Lewis had pushed him out of the shop, but CCTV footage showed no such altercation. | He said they had had an altercation and Mr Lewis had pushed him out of the shop, but CCTV footage showed no such altercation. |
'Intended to kill' | 'Intended to kill' |
Richard Herrmann, who prosecuted the case, told jurors that Mr Lewis came "very, very close" to dying and that Harris had "intended to kill" him. | Richard Herrmann, who prosecuted the case, told jurors that Mr Lewis came "very, very close" to dying and that Harris had "intended to kill" him. |
"The only reason the defendant didn't make that short walk [to give evidence] was because he had no answers, or none that would have stood up to the scrutiny of being cross-examined," Mr Herrmann said. | "The only reason the defendant didn't make that short walk [to give evidence] was because he had no answers, or none that would have stood up to the scrutiny of being cross-examined," Mr Herrmann said. |
"It's really difficult to actually know what his defence is." | "It's really difficult to actually know what his defence is." |
Sean Smith, who defended Harris during the trial, told the court that his client did not "have to prove anything". | Sean Smith, who defended Harris during the trial, told the court that his client did not "have to prove anything". |
He told the jury they "had to be sure he intended to kill". | He told the jury they "had to be sure he intended to kill". |
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