Body exhumed but cause of death unknown
Oct 31 2007 by Neil Mckay, The Journal
A FAMILY GP acquitted of murdering three of his patients with lethal overdoses of morphine took to the witness stand for the first time yesterday.
At an inquest into the death of a fourth patient, pensioner William Kerr, Dr Howard Martin told the hearing: “At no time did I have the intention of hastening or causing his death.”
The GP, whose practice was based in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, was not called to give evidence at his trial at Teesside Crown Court two years ago when he was cleared by a jury of murdering patients Harry Gittins, 74, Frank Moss, 59, and Stanley Weldon, 74, all from County Durham.
The death of cancer sufferer Mr Kerr, 84, formed part of the police investigation and he was exhumed at their request two years after his death. However, it was never the subject of any criminal charges.
A two-day inquest in Chester-le-Street yesterday heard that because of the decomposed state of Mr Kerr’s body, it was impossible to determine an exact cause of death.
Home Office pathologist Dr Mark Egan, who carried out a post-mortem examination, said he could not say beyond reasonable doubt that morphine had caused Mr Kerr’s death.
But he added: “I will say it is more likely than not that morphine contributed to the death.”
Dr Martin, 72, now of Penmaenmawr, North Wales, told the inquest how he had regarded Scots-born Mr Kerr, whom he described as “deeply religious,” as a friend as well as a patient.
He said he went to visit Mr Kerr at his home in Derwent Walk, Newton Aycliffe, in January 2003 “on the pretext of making a social call” after his grand-daughter told him how worried she was about him. Mr Kerr had not been out of the house for two months, and had lost two stone in weight.
Dr Martin said: “Bill was aware he was terminally ill. He wanted to stay at home and die among his family.”
He told the hearing he prescribed Mr Kerr a Brompton cocktail, a mixture of morphine, cocaine and alcohol, to relieve pain.
The GP added: “Bill preferred that I take care of him personally rather than hand him to strangers.”
He said he visited Mr Kerr at his home the day before he died.
“Anticipating his death was imminent, I prayed with him,” said Dr Martin. Mr Kerr died hours later, on March 28, 2003.
Despite a statement from Dr Martin’s barrister, Andrew Hockton, that “a verdict of death by natural causes is inevitable,” Durham coroner Andrew Tweddle said he could not be certain what caused Mr Kerr’s death, due to the decomposed state of his body following exhumation. He recorded an open verdict.
Dr Martin declined to comment after the hearing.
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Use the links below to read previous articles on the subject of Dr Howard Martin
Murder-accused GP stays silent
