THE family doctor accused of murdering three of his patients has declined to give evidence in his own defence.

Dr Howard Martin is on trial charged with murdering three seriously ill men under his care.

But his barrister told the jury Teesside Crown Court that he would not take the witness stand.

Antony Arlidge QC, defending, spoke as the case for the prosecution was completed and the defence about to begin.

He said: "I don't intend to call Dr Martin to give evidence. I have explained to him that there are circumstances in which the jury might be invited to draw certain conclusions - but that is his decision."

Dr Martin, 71, is accused of "jumping to the overhasty conclusion" that one of his patients, Harry Gittins, was in terminal decline. However there is no dispute that his other two alleged victims were terminally ill.

Mr Gittins, of Netwon Aycliffe, County Durham suffered from a tumour of the oesophagus. He was 74 when he died in January 2004. His other two alleged victims were Frank Moss, 59, of Eldon, near Bishop Auckland in County Durham and Stanley Weldon, 74, of Coundon Grange, near Bishop Auckland. Mr Weldon was suffering from Alzheimer's, long-term respiratory problems and pneumonia.

Mr Moss had cancer of the lung and brain.

The court has been told that all three men were given large doses of morphine by Dr Martin before they died. The prosecution allege it was these doses of morphine that were fatal.

Dr Martin, who has been granted bail, lives in Beech Road, Panmaenmawr, Gwynedd, North Wales.

The trial continues