'Angel of death' Glasgow nurse loses appeal over patient murders

Daily Record

3 days ago

Colin Campbell, formerly known as Colin Norris, was found guilty in 2008 of killing Doris Ludlam, Bridget Bourke, Irene Crookes and Ethel Hall.
A former nurse who was dubbed the 'Angel of Death' after he was jailed for the murders of four elderly patients and attempting to murder a fifth has lost appeals against his convictions.
Colin Campbell, formerly known as Colin Norris, was sentenced to life after being found guilty in 2008 of killing Doris Ludlam, Bridget Bourke, Irene Crookes and Ethel Hall.
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They were inpatients on orthopaedic wards where Campbell worked in Leeds in 2002 before they died, and had developed severe, unexplained hypoglycaemia.
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As well as murdering four, he was also found guilty of attempting to murder 90-year-old Vera Wilby.
The 48-year-old, who is originally from Glasgow, denied any wrongdoing and said he did nothing to cause hypoglycaemia in any of the patients.
He unsuccessfully appealed against his conviction in 2009 and applied to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) in 2011, who said previously that the prosecution relied on 'wholly circumstantial' evidence.
The CCRC referred the case to the Court of Appeal in London four years ago.
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After 14 days, the appeal finished on at the beginning of the month after closing submissions from Michael Mansfield KC, for Campbell, and James Curtis KC, for the Crown Prosecution Service, who opposed the appeal.
Mr Mansfield previously told the court that Campbell's appeal is a 'straightforward case' and that the judges 'must conclude that these convictions are unsafe'. It is claimed that evidence against him was largely circumstantial and deeply flawed.
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However, Mr Curtis said the court must uphold the convictions, adding that the jury in Campbell's trial were 'provided with the necessary relevant facts and issues, from a plethora of highly qualified and clinically experienced witnesses'.
In a ruling today judges dismissed his appeals.
In their judgment, Lady Justice Macur, Mr Justice Picken and Sir Stephen Irwin, said: 'We have no doubt about the safety of any of the five convictions. The appeals are dismissed.'