Convicted nurse faces wait for appeal ruling

A nurse jailed for murdering four elderly patients has been told he faces a wait to find out the outcome of his appeal against his convictions.

Colin Campbell, previously known as Colin Norris, was found guilty in 2008 of killing four women and attempting to kill a fifth by injecting them with insulin.

Doris Ludlam, 80, Bridget Bourke, 88, Irene Crookes, 79, and Ethel Hall, 86, were inpatients on orthopaedic wards where Campbell worked in Leeds in 2002 and developed unexplained hypoglycaemia.

Campbell denied any wrongdoing and over the past 14 days, the Court of Appeal has heard from both his lawyers and also the Crown Prosecution Service (S), who opposed the appeal.

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 had relied on "wholly circumstantial" evidence.

The CCRC referred the case to the Court of Appeal in London four years ago.

The appeal hearing finished on Friday after closing statements from Michael Mansfield KC, for Campbell, and James Curtis KC, for the S.

Mr Mansfield previously told the court that Campbell's appeal was a "straightforward case" and that the judges "must conclude that these convictions are unsafe".

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".

Lady Justice Macur, sitting with Sir Stephen Irwin and Mr Justice Picken, said after closing submissions: "It will come as no surprise that we are going to reserve judgment."

She added: "There may be ancillary matters for which we will call you back. We will know once you have the draft judgment."

A judgment is expected in writing at a later date.

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