Dr Howard Martin inquests reopened

Feb 2 2010 by Neil McKay, The Journal

HOW three patients of a family GP, who was cleared of their murders, came to die is at the centre of an inquest which started yesterday.

But at the start of the inquiry, it was stressed Dr Howard Martin was “not on trial in any shape, way or form”, a coroner insisted as he reopened inquests.

Dr Martin was acquitted of the murders of Frank Moss, 59, Harry Gittins, 74, and Stanley Weldon, 74, all from County Durham, after a trial at Teesside Crown Court just over four years ago.

A legal challenge by Mr Moss’s daughter Alison resulted in a judge ordering a new inquest into his death, and subsequently those of the other patients.

All three men had been patients of Dr Martin, 75, when he was a partner at the Jubilee Medical Group, which had surgeries in Newton Aycliffe, Shildon and Eldon, all south Durham.

Reopening all three inquests at Chester-le-Street Magistrates’ Court, coroner Andrew Tweddle said: “It’s inevitable given the history of this matter that Dr Martin’s name will come up many, many times. I should make it absolutely clear that Dr Martin is not on trial in any shape, way or form at all. He just happens to play a part in the story.”

After Dr Martin’s acquittal, Mr Tweddle decided not to hold an inquiry into the deaths, saying a thorough investigation had already taken place and he could not force the GP, who now lives in Penmaenmawr, Gwynedd, North Wales, to give evidence.