Jury ready for nurse murder trial

Mr Norris is accused of killing patients at two Leeds hospitals

A jury has been sworn in to try a male hospital nurse charged with murdering four elderly patients.

Colin Norris, 31, of Egilsay Terrace, Glasgow, is accused of killing the four woman, aged between 79 and 90, in 2002.

The women were patients at two Leeds hospitals - St James's and the Leeds General Infirmary.

Mr Norris is also accused of the attempted murder of the same four women and the attempted murder of a fifth woman. He denies all the charges.

One of the murder charges relates to the death of Irene Crooks, 79, of Leeds, at St James's Hospital in October 2002.

Mr Norris is also charged with the murders of Doris Ludlam, 80, of Pudsey, Bridget Bourke, 88, of Holbeck, and Ethel Hall, 86, of Calverley, at Leeds General Infirmary between June and December 2002.

The attempted murder of Vera Wilby, 90, is also alleged to have taken place at the infirmary.

Trial judge Mr Justice Griffiths Williams warned the panel of seven men and five women to try Mr Norris only on the evidence they hear in court and not to discuss the case with anyone else.

The jury will start to hear evidence on Tuesday.