Nurse killed patient with drug

Kenneth Heaton, 79, was a war veteran and great grandfather

A nurse who injected a powerful drug into a cancer patient so he could have "a good night's sleep" has been found guilty of his manslaughter.

Julia Levitt, 28, unlawfully killed Kenneth Heaton, aged 79. by giving him an unauthorised injection of a sedative, Hull Crown Court heard.

Judge Michael Mettyear gave her an 18- month jail sentence, suspended for two years. She had denied manslaughter.

Sentencing he told her: "It was totally appalling behaviour."

Judge Mettyear added: "You were a talented nurse with the power to do great good.

'Way to heaven'

"It is very sad that you behaved in such a way as to ruin all that. I am sure your motives were to help this very, very sick man although you did so in a way that was hardly appropriate.

"I bear in mind this is the end of your career."

It was totally appalling behaviour Judge Michael Mettyear

The court was told Mr Heaton, a prisoner of war in WWII and a great-grandfather, was suffering from cancer of the blood and pneumonia at the time of his death.

The jury heard Ms Levitt, of The Spinney, Newport, near Brough, East Yorkshire, believed he was "on his way to heaven" when she gave him the intravenous injection of Nozinan in August 2003, without the authority of his doctor.

The court had heard how Mr Heaton, of west Hull, died 30 minutes after receiving the injection from Mrs Levitt.

Mr Heaton was described in court as frail and very unwell but had discussed his condition with his doctors and said he wanted to live.

Dr Russell Patmore, director of haematology at Hull Royal Infirmary, told the court he believed Mr Heaton, who came from west Hull, had a "very good chance of getting out of hospital alive" before he was given the injection.

Ms Levitt wept as she told the court she had the patient's best interests at heart and "wanted to give him a good night's sleep".

'Rest in peace'

After the case Mr Heaton's three children said in a statement: "The last few months have been terrible but it is important for us and for our dad that we know the truth about his death.

"It does not make his loss any easier to bear but it may now allow him to rest in peace."

Det Insp Malcolm Redmore said the investigation had been painstaking and involved the close examination of the cases of 140 patients treated on Ward One in Hull Royal Infirmary.

He added: "This investigation focused on Julia Levitt alone and at no time during the investigation was concern raised about any other member of staff."

The trial was the second time the case had been heard after the judge died during the first court case.