The trial of family GP Dr Howard Martin, accused of murdering three of his patients, began yesterday at Teesside Crown Court. Catherine Jewitt details the allegations

FRANK Arthur Richard Moss was born on May 14, 1943, and died on March 14, 2003, aged 59. He registered as a patient of Dr Howard Martin's practice in the mid-1990s.

In January 2003, he was diagnosed with lung cancer but the tumour was found to be inoperable as it was large and had spread to his brain, causing epileptic fits.

He was referred for palliative chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment.

By February 12, he was finding it so difficult to breathe and use the stairs at his home in New Row, Eldon, near Bishop Auckland, County Durham, he moved his bed to a downstairs living room.

At night, he slept sitting upright and needed an oxygen cylinder beside his bed.

In an attempt to ease his breathing at night, Mr Moss had ordered a new remote control mechanical bed to be delivered on March 14, the date he died.

This, the prosecution says, demonstrates he still showed an interest in life and was looking forward to the arrival of the new bed.

These thoughts had been echoed by his family, particularly daughter, Alison, who said on the night before his death she found him sat up in bed wiring a plug and lead to fit to the new bed.

The court heard that on March 13, 2003, Dr Martin visited Mr Moss's home in the house and requested that the family leave them alone.

The prosecution says that at about 8.30pm, Dr Martin told Mr Moss's daughter: "I'm going to give him an injection, I don't think he will be with us in the morning."

Miss Moss went to see her father 15 minutes later and found him drifting in and out of sleep. At about 11pm, Dr Martin returned to the house and told Miss Moss he was giving her father a top-up injection, while he was still unconscious.

He said he liked Mr Moss and did not want to see him suffering and had asked the family to contact only him. He said he would return in the morning to write a death certificate.

But when Mr Moss died, in the early hours of March 14, the family chose not to bother Dr Martin and called for the on-call doctor to attend. Dr Martin called at the house at 8.30am and was said to be surprised that they had called for someone else.

Experienced nurse Lesley Roberts, who had visited Mr Moss at home, said on the night before his death he did not give the impression of a man in extreme pain and was shocked to hear of his passing. The prosecution says Dr Martin would be in no doubt that the doses administered would lead to his death.

Stanley Weldon was born on March 23, 1928 and died on March 18, 2003, only days before his 75th birthday.

The court heard that Alzheimer's sufferer Mr Weldon lived in Greenfield House Nursing Home, in Newton Aycliffe, near Darlington.

In the final stages of his life, he became unable to speak, lost his mobility and could be aggressive at times because of the condition.

Dr Martin visited him at the home and told manager John Harrison he would give him an injection to settle him down. Dr Martin said he noticed Mr Moss was suffering breathing difficulties and may have had a stroke so administered 60mg of morphine. Mr Harrison said he had never known of morphine being administered to a suspected stroke victim because he was not in pain. Members of the family visited Mr Weldon on March 18 and noticed he was struggling to breathe.

The court heard that Elizabeth Weldon had spoken to Dr Martin outside, where he told her: "He is very ill so I have given him something to help him on his way." He died later that day.

The prosecution said it would call for evidence from experts who say that it should have been obvious that the high doses of morphine administered intramuscularly would inevitably bring about death, and that it was an inappropriate dose for someone who was not used to the drug.

Harry Gittins was born on October 9, 1929, and died January 22, 2004, aged 74.

In October 2003, Mr Gittins began to complain of stomach pain and difficulty swallowing food.

He was referred to Darlington Memorial Hospital where it was discovered he was suffering with throat cancer.

His consultant told him he had found a tumour on the oesophagus, but no evidence it had spread to other parts of the body.

He underwent a course of chemotherapy and radiology after which he was able to return to his Newton Aycliffe home.

There, Dr Martin visited him for follow-up treatment and administered low doses of morphine tablets and sachets to ease his pain.

On January 21, Mr Gittins had expected to be admitted to hospital and had washed and shaved in preparation of his appointment. But before he got there Dr Martin called at his home and said his medical records showed he was dying of cancer.

Between 8.45am and 11.40pm, he called at the house three times to administer a combination of drugs, including morphine, diamorphine and chlorpronazine.

The court heard that Dr Martin had told family members he had evidence on a laptop computer that he did not have with him to show that Mr Gittins was "riddled with cancer". After Mr Gittins' death, daughter Gillian Coates met her father's consultant who said there was no evidence his cancer had spread.

The court also heard that Dr Martin did not own a laptop computer and had been described by colleagues as "computer illiterate".