Saline nurse will stand trial next year

The nurse accused of contaminating saline drips at a hospital where the deaths of several patients are under investigation by police is scheduled to stand trial next year.

Rebecca Leighton was arrested last month by detectives investigating deaths at Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport and appeared at Manchester Crown Court yesterday by videolink. She was remanded in custody as the provisional date for her trial was set for 28 February. She is accused of three counts of criminal damage with intent to endanger life and three counts of being reckless as to whether life was being endangered. George Keep, 84, no longer forms part of the inquiry.