Menu
04/03/2008
Life Sentence For Killer Nurse
A male nurse who murdered four elderly patients and attempted to murder a fifth at two hospitals in Leeds has been jailed for life.
Colin Norris, 32, from Egilsay Terrace in Glasgow, was given four life sentences with a minimum term of 30 years for each of the murders and a 20-year sentence to run concurrently for attempted murder. He will have to spend at least 30 years in prison.
At Newcastle Crown Court on Monday, Norris was found guilty of murdering four female patients - Ethel Hall, 86, from Calverley, Leeds; Doris Ludlum, 80, from Pudsey; and Bridget Bourke, 88, from Holbeck at Leeds General Infirmary and Irene Crooks, 79, from Leeds, at St James's Hospital - via massive doses of insulin in 2002. He was also found guilty of the attempted murder of another patient - Vera Wilby, 90, from Rawdon at Leeds General Infirmary.
Norris had denied all the charges.
During the five-month trial at Newcastle Crown Court, the jury heard that Norris first attracted suspicion when he predicted the death of Mrs Hall. Mrs Hall, who had been recovering from hip surgery at the time of her death, later slipped into a fatal coma. Test results revealed insulin levels 12 times higher than the normal level in her body. The prosecution had claimed that these were caused by injections administered by Norris.
Following the death of Mrs Hall, police began investigating other patient deaths.
At sentencing on Tuesday, Mr Justice Griffith Williams described Norris as "a thoroughly evil and dangerous man", who was "arrogant and manipulative" with "a real dislike of elderly patients". He said: "There cannot be any suggestion you were motivated to hasten their ends to spare them suffering; indeed, there was no evidence that any of them was suffering apart from the pains that the elderly sometimes have.
"I suspect you enjoyed the power that ending a life gave you, choosing the elderly because they were defenceless."
Detective Chief Superintendent Chris Gregg said: "We have no idea what motivated Norris to kill, only he knows the answer to that. He has been described by the judge as an 'evil and dangerous' man. I am convinced he would have gone on to kill more patients had he not been stopped in his tracks.
"We welcome the minimum 30 years sentence which will hopefully go some way to helping the families deal with this terrible episode in their lives."
(KMcA/JM)
Colin Norris, 32, from Egilsay Terrace in Glasgow, was given four life sentences with a minimum term of 30 years for each of the murders and a 20-year sentence to run concurrently for attempted murder. He will have to spend at least 30 years in prison.
At Newcastle Crown Court on Monday, Norris was found guilty of murdering four female patients - Ethel Hall, 86, from Calverley, Leeds; Doris Ludlum, 80, from Pudsey; and Bridget Bourke, 88, from Holbeck at Leeds General Infirmary and Irene Crooks, 79, from Leeds, at St James's Hospital - via massive doses of insulin in 2002. He was also found guilty of the attempted murder of another patient - Vera Wilby, 90, from Rawdon at Leeds General Infirmary.
Norris had denied all the charges.
During the five-month trial at Newcastle Crown Court, the jury heard that Norris first attracted suspicion when he predicted the death of Mrs Hall. Mrs Hall, who had been recovering from hip surgery at the time of her death, later slipped into a fatal coma. Test results revealed insulin levels 12 times higher than the normal level in her body. The prosecution had claimed that these were caused by injections administered by Norris.
Following the death of Mrs Hall, police began investigating other patient deaths.
At sentencing on Tuesday, Mr Justice Griffith Williams described Norris as "a thoroughly evil and dangerous man", who was "arrogant and manipulative" with "a real dislike of elderly patients". He said: "There cannot be any suggestion you were motivated to hasten their ends to spare them suffering; indeed, there was no evidence that any of them was suffering apart from the pains that the elderly sometimes have.
"I suspect you enjoyed the power that ending a life gave you, choosing the elderly because they were defenceless."
Detective Chief Superintendent Chris Gregg said: "We have no idea what motivated Norris to kill, only he knows the answer to that. He has been described by the judge as an 'evil and dangerous' man. I am convinced he would have gone on to kill more patients had he not been stopped in his tracks.
"We welcome the minimum 30 years sentence which will hopefully go some way to helping the families deal with this terrible episode in their lives."
(KMcA/JM)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
03 March 2008
Nurse Found Guilty Of Patient Murders
A male nurse has been found guilty of the murder of four elderly patients at two hospitals in Leeds.
Nurse Found Guilty Of Patient Murders
A male nurse has been found guilty of the murder of four elderly patients at two hospitals in Leeds.
22 September 2008
Scottish Government Pledges Cap On Surgery Waiting Times
Scottish patients may soon have a legal guarantee that they will wait no longer than 12 weeks for surgery. The Scottish Government's Patient Rights Bill proposes a strict limit on how long they have to wait from their surgical referral to receiving their operation.
Scottish Government Pledges Cap On Surgery Waiting Times
Scottish patients may soon have a legal guarantee that they will wait no longer than 12 weeks for surgery. The Scottish Government's Patient Rights Bill proposes a strict limit on how long they have to wait from their surgical referral to receiving their operation.
10 August 2007
Serial Killer Found Dead At Broadmoor
A serial killer who fantasised about becoming movie murderer Freddy Krueger has been found dead at Broadmoor Hospital. The body of Daniel Gonzalez, 26, was discovered at around 8.30am yesterday. He was serving six life sentences after being convicted of stabbing four people to death and attempting to murder two others in September 2004.
Serial Killer Found Dead At Broadmoor
A serial killer who fantasised about becoming movie murderer Freddy Krueger has been found dead at Broadmoor Hospital. The body of Daniel Gonzalez, 26, was discovered at around 8.30am yesterday. He was serving six life sentences after being convicted of stabbing four people to death and attempting to murder two others in September 2004.
11 April 2005
'No indication' of Shipman suicide, widow tells inquiry
The widow of serial killer Harold Shipman has told an inquiry into his death that he gave no indication of an intention to commit suicide. Primrose Shipman told the inquiry, which opened at Leeds Crown Court today, that she asked her husband if he was suicidal during a conversation while he was being held in HMP Manchester in 1999.
'No indication' of Shipman suicide, widow tells inquiry
The widow of serial killer Harold Shipman has told an inquiry into his death that he gave no indication of an intention to commit suicide. Primrose Shipman told the inquiry, which opened at Leeds Crown Court today, that she asked her husband if he was suicidal during a conversation while he was being held in HMP Manchester in 1999.
13 January 2004
Serial killer Shipman found dead in his cell
Harold Shipman, Britain's most prolific serial killer, has died in his cell this morning after he apparently hanged himself. Shipman, 57, who was jailed for life in 2000 for the murders of 15 people, was discovered by prison staff at Wakefield Prison at around 6.20am.
Serial killer Shipman found dead in his cell
Harold Shipman, Britain's most prolific serial killer, has died in his cell this morning after he apparently hanged himself. Shipman, 57, who was jailed for life in 2000 for the murders of 15 people, was discovered by prison staff at Wakefield Prison at around 6.20am.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A showery start with outbreaks most frequent north of Lough Neagh and through the morning, before dwindling during the afternoon as the northwest breezes ease and brighter spells of weak sunshine prosper. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A dry night, save for a few light showers around the coasts, with prolonged clear spells and light winds bringing a frosty dawn for many in central and southern parts. Minimum temperature -3 °C.
