Payout for nurse victim's family

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The family of an elderly woman who was murdered by a nurse in a Leeds hospital have been awarded £47,500 to pay for the care of her widower.

Doris Ludlam, 80, was in Leeds General Infirmary for a heart condition and a broken hip when she was given a fatal overdose by Colin Norris in June 2002.

He was jailed for life in March 2008 for killing Mrs Ludlam and three other women with huge doses of insulin.

The settlement was reached at Leeds County Court on Wednesday.

The payment was given for bereavement, damages, loss of pension and to go towards the care of Mrs Ludlam's widower, Walter, 94, who lives in a nursing home.

'Horrific chapter'

Speaking after the hearing, Mrs Ludlam's daughter, Elizabeth Hodgson, said: "We trusted the hospital to look after and care for our mum, knowing she was frail.

"We were robbed of our mother and no amount of money can replace her. We are relieved that the case is now settled so we can continue to try and rebuild our lives and move on from this horrific chapter."

Colin Norris was found guilty of killing four women in 2002.

In a statement, a spokesman for Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said: "This matter came before the court today when a settlement was agreed amicably between the parties.

"The trust wishes to take this opportunity of apologising once again for the death of Doris Ludlam and for the distress caused to her family."

Earlier in December Norris, 33, from Egilsay Terrace, Glasgow, lost an appeal challenging his conviction.

He was told he must serve at least 30 years of his life sentence.

As well as Mrs Ludlam, Norris also killed Bridget Bourke, 88, Irene Crookes, 79, and 86-year-old Ethel Hall.

He was also found guilty of trying to kill Vera Wilby, 90, but she survived the coma which followed the unnecessary insulin injection.