THE family of an Alzheimer's sufferer allegedly murdered by his doctor told a jury that the GP had described giving him an injection to "help him on his way".

Dr Howard Martin, who was a GP and partner in a County Durham medical practice group, is accused of murdering 74-year-old Stanley Weldon on March 18, 2003.

Yesterday, Mr Weldon's wife and two daughters told the jury at Teesside Crown Court what Dr Martin had allegedly told them hours before the death.

Daughters Sharon Weldon and Glenda Lawton were among family members at Mr Weldon's bedside on the day he died.

Mrs Lawton said: "Dr Martin came in and sat on the bed. After a couple of minutes he went to his bag, took a syringe out and went over to my dad.

"He put it in his arm. After the injection, he said 'this will help him on his way'."

Ms Weldon said: "The doctor said the last thing to go would be his hearing. He said 'I'm doing him a kindness, I'm helping him on his way'."

The family had been called to Greenfields House nursing home, in Newton Aycliffe, on the morning of March 18.

When Mr Weldon's wife of 50 years, Elizabeth, arrived at the home, the doctor was leaving the building and stopped to speak to her.

Mrs Weldon told the court: "He said he was very poorly and said he had done him a kindness and helped him on his way."

Nursing home manager John Harrison told the jury that Dr Martin said he would have administered more morphine to Mr Weldon had his family not been present.

Dr Martin, who now lives in Gwynedd, North Wales, is also accused of murdering Frank Moss, 59, of Eldon, near Bishop Auckland, on March 14, 2003, and Harry Gittins, 74, of Newton Aycliffe, on January 22 last year.

He denies all three allegations. The trial continues.