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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Killer nurse's appeal thrown out | Killer nurse's appeal thrown out |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A former nurse jailed for murdering elderly patients at two Leeds hospitals has lost an appeal challenging his conviction. | A former nurse jailed for murdering elderly patients at two Leeds hospitals has lost an appeal challenging his conviction. |
| Colin Norris, 33, from Egilsay Terrace, Glasgow, was found guilty in March last year of killing four women in 2002. | Colin Norris, 33, from Egilsay Terrace, Glasgow, was found guilty in March last year of killing four women in 2002. |
| He was told he must serve at least 30 years of his life sentence. | He was told he must serve at least 30 years of his life sentence. |
| Norris killed the women by giving them massive doses of insulin at Leeds General Infirmary and St James's Infirmary. | Norris killed the women by giving them massive doses of insulin at Leeds General Infirmary and St James's Infirmary. |
| He was convicted at Newcastle Crown Court of four counts of murder and one of attempted murder following a lengthy trial. | He was convicted at Newcastle Crown Court of four counts of murder and one of attempted murder following a lengthy trial. |
| Lord Justice Aikens, sitting with two other judges, ruled on Monday that Norris's convictions were "safe". | Lord Justice Aikens, sitting with two other judges, ruled on Monday that Norris's convictions were "safe". |
| We are quite satisfied that the convictions of the appellant on all five counts were safe Lord Justice Aikens | We are quite satisfied that the convictions of the appellant on all five counts were safe Lord Justice Aikens |
| He added the case against Norris, who was not present for the ruling at the Court of Appeal in London, was "very strong indeed". | He added the case against Norris, who was not present for the ruling at the Court of Appeal in London, was "very strong indeed". |
| Norris was given four life sentences, with a minimum of term of 30 years for each of the murders, and a 20-year sentence to run concurrently for attempted murder. | Norris was given four life sentences, with a minimum of term of 30 years for each of the murders, and a 20-year sentence to run concurrently for attempted murder. |
| Detectives said he had showed no remorse for killing Doris Ludlam, 80, Bridget Bourke, 88, Irene Crookes, 79, and 86-year-old Ethel Hall. | Detectives said he had showed no remorse for killing Doris Ludlam, 80, Bridget Bourke, 88, Irene Crookes, 79, and 86-year-old Ethel Hall. |
| Jurors also found him guilty of trying to kill Vera Wilby, 90, but she survived the coma which followed the unnecessary insulin injection. | Jurors also found him guilty of trying to kill Vera Wilby, 90, but she survived the coma which followed the unnecessary insulin injection. |
| Court of Appeal judges rejected both grounds of appeal, which related to directions given to the jury by the trial judge. | Court of Appeal judges rejected both grounds of appeal, which related to directions given to the jury by the trial judge. |
| Lord Justice Aikens said directions given by the judge "cannot validly be criticised" and there was no misdirection to the jury. | Lord Justice Aikens said directions given by the judge "cannot validly be criticised" and there was no misdirection to the jury. |
| 'Evil and dangerous' | |
| He said: "We are quite satisfied that the convictions of the appellant on all five counts were safe. The appeal is dismissed." | He said: "We are quite satisfied that the convictions of the appellant on all five counts were safe. The appeal is dismissed." |
| Police began an investigation in November 2002 after Dr Emma Ward noticed that Mrs Hall had slipped into a hypoglycaemic coma despite not being a diabetic. | |
| Blood tests showed she had insulin levels 12 times the norm, and she died three weeks later. | |
| Detectives looked at other deaths on the wards when Norris was working and found evidence that by the time Dr Ward raised her concerns, he had already killed three times and failed with one attempt. | |
| Trial judge Mr Justice Griffith Williams told Norris: "You are, I have absolutely no doubt, a thoroughly evil and dangerous man." |