A FAMILY doctor accused of murdering a patient appeared at court yesterday charged with two more killings.

Dr Howard Martin, 71, is charged with murdering 74-year-old cancer sufferer Harry Gittins, of Newton Aycliffe, County Durham.

Yesterday, he appeared at Teesside Crown Court accused of the murders of Frank Moss, 59, of Eldon, Bishop Auckland, County Dur- ham, and Stanley Weldon, 74, from Coundon Grange, County Durham, after the case was transferred from Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court.

Both men died in March last year.

Dr Martin is due to stand trial on October 25 after he pleaded not guilty in December to murdering Mr Gittins.

Christopher Tehrani, prosecuting, said it was the Crown's intention to join together the two allegations of murder with the allegation of the murder of Mr Gittins to form a new indictment.

Dressed in a shirt and tie and a cream cardigan, the GP, of Beech Road, Penmaenmawr, Gwynedd, North Wales, who is defended by barrister Mark Aldred, spoke only to confirm his name.

A plea and directions hearing relating to the two new charges will be heard at the same court on June 17.

The Recorder of Middlesbrough, Judge Peter Fox, said the Crown Prosecution Service must serve its case on or before May 31.

The case was adjourned and Dr Martin was granted bail.