‘Angel of Death’ serial killer may be innocent, expert claims

Glasgow-born Norris, 35, was dubbed the “Angel of Death” after he was found guilty of poisoning with insulin five elderly patients in his care at Leeds General Infirmary, murdering four of them.

But a BBC Scotland investigation claims to have uncovered medical evidence which could pave the way for his release.

BBC Scotland Investigates: Hospital Serial Killer – A Jury in the Dark reveals the findings of renowned medical expert Professor Vincent Marks, which cast doubt on the safety of the 2008 convictions. The investigation by West Yorkshire Police began in November 2001, when pensioner Ethel Hall died after suffering an unexplained episode of hypoglycaemia – when blood sugar falls to an extremely low level.

The police investigation produced another four cases in which women patients had suffered unexplained hypoglycaemic episodes. They had all originally been certified as having died of natural causes.

Police officers learned that Norris had been on shift for each incident and in the trial the prosecution argued that a cluster of five hypoglycaemic cases was so rare it must mean foul play.

But BBC Scotland reporter Mark Daly discloses new evidence from Prof Marks, the world’s most experienced insulin expert, that up to 10 per cent of elderly patients in hospital suffer from this condition.

The scientific findings contradict the prosecution argument that these cases were exceptionally rare.

Prof Marks undertook a forensic analysis of all the international medical studies carried out since 2008, which he says disproves the belief – a key part of the prosecution case – that a cluster of hypoglycemic comas in non-diabetics was extraordinary. He tells the BBC Scotland programme: “I was surprised at how very common it is in this particular group of elderly, sick people. In one very detailed survey, of thousands of patients, it was up to 10 per cent. In others it was 5 per cent.

“And I thought, well, you know, it’s not that rare after all.”

He tells the programme he believes that using cases in the Norris trial as evidence of insulin administration is unsafe.

Defence solicitor Jim Littlehales, who was with Norris throughout the police interviews, said: “The new evidence would effectively blow a large hole in what was the central plank in the prosecution case.”

Norris, from the Milton area of Glasgow, was sentenced to life imprisonment, and ordered to serve a minimum of 30 years behind bars.

An application for an appeal, based on the new evidence revealed in the BBC Scotland documentary will be submitted to the Criminal Cases Review Commission.