Nurse in court on murder charges

A nurse charged with murdering three elderly women at a care home in Somerset she ran with her husband has appeared in court.

Rachel Baker, 43, who operated Parkfields Residential Care Home in Butleigh, is accused of killing the three women between 2006 and 2007.

The 43-year-old and her husband Leigh Baker, 50, are jointly charged with perverting the course of justice.

The case at Bristol Crown Court was adjourned until 19 June.

Case summary

It is alleged Mrs Baker murdered Marion Alder, 79, Clara "Lucy" Cox, 97, and Mary "Frances" Hay, 85.

Mrs Baker also faces 11 counts of possession of a controlled Class A and C drugs.

During Friday's hearing Mr Justice Royce ordered the prosecution, represented by Brian Pixton, to serve a case summary to the defence counsel by 5 June.

The judge labelled the prosecution's failure to deliver the document "a shambles".

Mr and Mrs Baker, from Boundary Way, Glastonbury, Somerset, who took over the care home in 1988, were previously granted conditional bail.