The BBC's Richard Wells: Dr Moor is a supporter of euthanasia

Dr David Moor is charged with the murder of 85-year-old George Liddell on July 19 1997.

The retired ambulance driver, who suffered from cancer of the colon, died at his daughter's home in Fenham, Newcastle.

James Goss QC, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court that Dr Moor was interviewed by a reporter on Sunday July 20 after former United Nations medical director Dr Michael Irwin said in a Sunday Times article that day that he had helped patients to die.

Mr Goss said: "In the interview, Dr Moor said that he had given two doses of diamorphine to two of his patients in the last week.

"He admitted he had helped many patients to die in the last 30 years, and said he `aggressively supported Dr Irwin'."

The jury were shown a video of a television interview with the BBC that Dr Moor took part in later that day.

During the interview Dr Moor was asked again if he had helped these patients to die and he replied: "Many times over the past 30 years. But I could put no numerical figure on it.

"I address the problem and the needs of the patient with care and compassion."

'I cannot be struck off'

When asked by the interviewer what he did next, Dr Moor, who denies murder, added: "We go in with a fairly high dose of diamorphine.

"I am not a member of the BMA and do not subscribe to their views.

"I probably am breaking the law, I'm on the fringe of breaking the law. I would be very surprised if I had to defend myself in court.

"I can't be struck off because I'm dealing with pain and with suffering and I'm dealing with the pain and I have no problem with it."

Mr Goss said it was a simple case of murder and not about euthanasia.

"Once a doctor decides to terminate life not only is it contrary to the BMA's views, it constitutes, in our view, murder.

"This is not a trial about the merits or demerits of euthanasia, it is a straightforward alleged case of a doctor deliberately ending the life of a patient.

"We do not allege he was a callous, wicked man. Quite the contrary, by all accounts he was a caring, hard working practitioner, well-liked by his patients.

"But no one man, whatever his station in life, is above the law."

Doctor ejected from court

The trial took a dramatic turn when Dr Irwin, who was in the public gallery, jumped to his feet and shouted to Mr Justice Hooper: "You are persecuting a wonderful man of courage, sir."

The judge ordered him to leave the court, not to return before the end of the trial and warned everyone else in the courtroom that any similar outbursts would be treated in the same way.