AN inquest will begin today into the deaths of three patients who a doctor was cleared of murdering.

County Durham Coroner Andrew Tweddle had closed the book on the cases of Frank Moss, 59, Harry Gittins, 74, and Stanley Weldon, 74, all from County Durham.

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

Dr Martin was cleared of murdering them with overdoses of morphine after a trial at Teesside Crown Court in December 2005.

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

But in November last year, a High Court judge overruled his decision and ordered an inquest into the death of 59-year-old cancer patient Mr Moss following a legal challenge by his daughter, Allison.

The inquest into the deaths of all three, which is expected to last up to six weeks, is being held at Chester-le-Street Magistrates Court.

Today the inquest is expected to hear evidence from Hope Office pathologist Dr Mark Egan, who will talk about the cause of death of the pateints.

Dr Martin himself has been asked to attend as the hearing draw to a close on or around March 5.