Killer nurse denied Supreme Court appeal request

Colin Campbell, formerly known as Colin Norris, was found guilty in 2008 of killing four women

A former nurse who was jailed for life for the murders of four elderly patients will not be allowed to take his case to the UK's highest court, judges have ruled.

Colin Campbell, formerly known as Colin Norris, was found guilty in 2008 of killing the four women, who were all inpatients on orthopaedic wards where he worked in Leeds in 2002.

All four developed unexplained hypoglycaemia, with Campbell denying any wrongdoing and saying he did nothing to cause low blood sugar in any patients.

Lawyers for Campbell, 49, applied to certify a point of law at the Supreme Court, but this was rejected by Court of Appeal judges.

Campbell, originally from Glasgow, was convicted of murdering Doris Ludlam, 80, Bridget Bourke, 88, Irene Crookes, 79, and Ethel Hall, 86, after a trial at Newcastle Crown Court.

He was also found guilty of attempting to murder 90-year-old Vera Wilby and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 30 years.

Court of Appeal judges dismissed his appeals in June after his case was referred there by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC).

At a hearing on Tuesday, Lady Justice Macur said they "considered the appeal and considered the application on the papers".

"Consequently, we refuse to certify the question which does not arise from judgment handed down," she added.

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