A FAMILY GP accused of triple murder told detectives he never had any intention of hastening the deaths of his patients.

Dr Howard Martin said he had been put under immense strain by the allegations and was shocked when he was arrested for murder.

Teesside Crown Court heard he handed police a number of pre-prepared statements in May and August last year when he was questioned over the allegations.

In the statements, Dr Martin said: "This has come as a total and awful shock. I have been under constant strain over the past year."

The court heard Dr Martin was arrested in the car park of the Cobblers Hall surgery, in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, on May 10 last year, on suspicion of the murder of Harry Gittins, 74.

He was interviewed a number of times over the next few months and handed detectives statements regarding the deaths of Mr Gittins, Stanley Weldon, 74, and Frank Moss, 59. During six further interviews he refused to answer any questions, the court heard.

He told police he had seen Mr Gittins in November 2003, a month after the married father had been diagnosed with cancer of the oesophagus.

Dr Martin, of North Wales, said: "I do have a memory of a discussion about his cancer, the fact that it was inoperable and the prognosis was poor.

"That was before his family knew he had cancer. He did not want to worry them. I said I did not expect him to be around this time next year."

The GP said he had visited Mr Gittins' home, in Newton Aycliffe, three times on January 21, last year, the day the patient died.

He said Mr Gittins told him he was in pain, could not sleep and had been vomiting.

The doctor said: "I was very concerned about his condition and I told him so. He was adamant he did not want to go into hospital.

"In my view, he was competent to make decisions about his medical care and accordingly I was obliged to respect his medical condition."

He said on the three visits he gave Mr Gittins 60mg of morphine, followed by an injection of diamorphine and a further dose of 100mg of diamorphine.

Dr Martin, who served as an Army doctor for 18 years, said in a statement: "At no time was it my aim or intention to hasten his death. The medication I administered was to relieve his pain, suffering and distress."

The trial continues.