Double killer dies in prison
MURDERER WITH CANCER REFUSES TREATMENT
A PSYCHOPATH who butchered a prostitute got his wish to die in a prison housing some of Britain’s most evil men.
John Nixon was jailed for life TWICE for killing two different women decades apart.
The cancer-stricken killer died in HMP Frankland last November just months after his diagnosis.
He was serving life after stabbing 23-year-old sex worker Carolyn Porter over 50 times in 2005.
The murder was committed while out on licence after he stabbed Barbara Lane to death in her County Durham home in 1979.
A new report into his death has praised the care he received at the Category A County Durham jail – dubbed ‘monster mansion.’
Among the 844 inmates are Ian Huntley and ‘Yorkshire Ripper’ Peter Sutcliffe.
Nixon, 60, was diagnosed last June with oesophageal cancer and liver metastases after a doctor noticed swelling.
“From July 2017, Mr Nixon told staff that he did not want any treatment,” states a Prisons and Probation Ombudsman report.
“Healthcare staff treated Mr Nixon palliatively, focusing on his symptoms and pain management.
“When Mr Nixon’s condition deteriorated, he moved to the healthcare unit at HMP Frankland, where he died on 16 November.”
The murderer was plagued with illhealth, suffering diabetes psychosis and hepatitis C yet declined any treatment.
“He found attending the healthcare department triggered severe anxiety for him and he frequently opted out of treatment, despite healthcare staff telling him the possible consequences.
“In February 2016, Mr Nixon wrote to the healthcare department and said that he did not want any further appointments. He voluntarily stopped his diabetes treatment.”
But after telling a nurse he needed time to consider his options, he again refused treatment.
“On 25 July, Mr Nixon discussed his decision with specialist palliative care staff and they told him that without treatment his prognosis was three to 12 months,” adds the newly-published report.
“Mr Nixon wrote again on 4 August to the healthcare department and said that he had decided to refuse treatment.
“Mr Nixon said he did not want anyone to resuscitate him if his heart or breathing stopped and signed an order to that effect.”
His eventual death, the coroner ruled, was from pneumonia due to oesophageal cancer. But staff were praised for offering “excellent support and treatment”.
The ombudsman stated after Nixon’s diagnosis, he may have been eligible for release on compassionate grounds on medical reasons.
“This is usually when they have a terminal illness and a life expectancy of less than three months,” adds the report. “Prison staff discussed the possibility of compassionate release with Mr Nixon. He said that he wanted to die in prison.”