Male nurse charged with killing 5 patients

NEWCASTLE, England, Oct. 16 (UPI) -- A prosecutor told jurors Tuesday that a male nurse in a British hospital may have killed four elderly patients because they were troublesome for the staff.

Colin Norris is charged with administering lethal doses of insulin to four elderly women at Leeds General Infirmary and St. James Hospital and attempting to kill a fifth, who survived, The Times of London reported.

“What is clear is that Mrs. Hall was 86 and was in a mentally confused state post-surgery," Robert Smith, the prosecuting lawyer, said of one of Norris's alleged victims, Ethel Hall. "Whether Norris considered she had reached the end of her life and should be helped on her way, or she was a nuisance and her life ought to be brought to an end, remains a distinct possibility."

Norris also predicted Hall's death to other staff nurses, Smith said in the Times' report.

A blood test after her death found high levels of insulin in Hall. Smith said that the drug couldn't have been administered by mistake since she was not diabetic.