GP's drug dose could have killed fit man

A HOME Office pathologist told jurors yesterday in the trial of a GP accused of murdering an 85-year-old patient that levels of morphine found in the pensioner's body were high enough to have killed "a fit and healthy young man".

Dr James Sunter was giving evidence on the sixth day of the trial at Newcastle Crown Court of Dr David Moor, who denies murdering George Liddell on 19 July 1997 by injecting him with diamorphine. Dr Moor was attending Mr Liddell, who had left hospital after surgery for bowel cancer.

Dr Sunter, who did a post-mortem examination of Mr Liddell, said: "The overdose could have proved fatal in a fit and healthy young person lacking ... the smaller diseases suffered by the deceased." The trial continues today.