'He forecast time patient would die' A Nurse has denied murdering four elderly patients by deliberately injecting them with insulin.

A Nurse has denied murdering four elderly patients bydeliberately injecting them with insulin.

And a court heard Colin Norris, 31, from Glasgow predicted onewoman would die that night - and even gave a specific time - despite colleagues believing the pensioner was comfortable after hipsurgery.

All four women died in the early hours when Norris was working,and they could all be considered "a burden to nursing staff",Newcastle Crown Court was told.

Norris is alleged to have told a trainee he did not like oldpeople and was unhappy working in their care.

The staff nurse, of Egilsay Terrace, Glasgow, denies four countsof murder while working at two Leeds hospitals between May andDecember in 2002.

He also denies attempted murder charges against the same four andthe attempted murder of another elderly patient who survived ahypoglycaemic coma.

According to the prosecution, there was no specific motive for themurder of 86-year-old Ethel Hall from Calverley, Leeds.

Robert Smith QC said: "Whether Norris considered she had reachedthe end of her life and should be helped on her way, or she was anuisance and her life ought to be brought to an end, remains adistinct possibility.

"This nevertheless remains a motiveless crime."

The court heard staff believed the pensioner was recoveringreasonably well.

But Mr Smith said that during a shift in November 2002, Norrisallegedly told a colleague "Ethel was going off that night". "It wasjust his luck, he said, that if Ethel Hall died in the night, hewould have all the paperwork to do."

Mr Smith said the nurse told another colleague: "Whenever I didnights someone always died."

The barrister added: "Significantly, he said something quiteextraordinary - he went on to predict the time of Ethel Hall'sdeath."

Mr Smith said Norris told a colleague: "It was always in themorning when things go wrong - about 0515.

"This prediction by Colin Norris proved to be entirely correct."

The jury, which was told the trial could run until February, heardhow she slipped into a coma and suffered severe brain damage.

A blood sample indicated she had been given insulin. despite thefact she was not diabetic.

The trial continues.