Police ‘almost shut hospital during probe into killings’
Poisoning-spree nurse convicted by jury
POLICE CAME came close to closing a hospital to protect patients after a killer nurse was found guilty of a murderous poisoning spree at the site.
Filipino Victorino Chua, 49, was convicted of murdering two patients at Stepping Hill Hospital, in Stockport, cleared of a third murder, but found guilty of attempting to cause that patient grievous bodily harm following a trial at Manchester Crown Court. He will be sentenced today.
Speaking after the verdicts, Sir Peter Fahy, the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, said the force had come close to closing Stepping Hill Hospital to protect patients at the start of the hugely complex investigation.
But Sir Peter said: “What we were faced with is if we had to close the hospital, or even part of the hospital and in particular if we had to move very frail patients to another site, that in itself could have led to deaths and could have caused enormous risks.”
Sir Peter apologised to nurse Rebecca Leighton, who was initially arrested in the investigation – while Chua kept his silence.
Det Supt Simon Barraclough, who led the investigation, said after the verdict, the nurse had shown “a complete lack of remorse”.
He added: “Chua has demonstrated clear narcissistic and psychopathic tendencies.”
Chua was found guilty of murdering Tracy Arden, 44, and Al- fred Weaver, 83. He was cleared of murdering Arnold Lancaster, 81, who was suffering from terminal cancer, but convicted of attempting to cause him grievous bodily harm with intent by poisoning.
In all, Chua was convicted of two murders, 22 counts of attempted grievous bodily harm, one count of grievous bodily harm, seven attempts of administering poison and one count of administering poison.
He was cleared of one count of murder, one count of manslaughter and one count of attempting to administer poison.
Ann Barnes, the chief executive of Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Stepping Hill Hospital, said: “These were shocking and appalling crimes that took place when the patients should have been receiving nothing but the highest quality care.”
THE FAMILIES of the victims of a nurse who faces life in jail after being found guilty of a murderous poisoning spree at his hospital have spoken of their “distressing” journey to find the truth.
Victorino Chua, 49, injected insulin into saline bags and ampoules while working on two wards at Stepping Hill Hospital, in Stockport, in June and July 2011. These were then unwittingly used by other nurses on the ward – leading to a series of insulin overdoses being given to mainly elderly victims.
He was convicted of murdering two patients, cleared of a third murder but found guilty of attempting to cause that patient grievous bodily harm yesterday following a trial at Manchester Crown Court. He will be sentenced today in the presence of some of his victims’ loved ones and faces a mandatory two life sentences for the murders.
Speaking after the verdict, the family of Chua’s victims, Derbyshire pensioner Mary Cartwright, who has since passed away, said they felt they had been let down.
Mrs Cartwright’s daughter, Judi Jones, said: “It has been a long journey, often distressing, sometimes frustrating and continually at the forefront of our daily lives for almost four years.
“We are very happy with the verdict and hope that lessons have been learned in order that other families and their loved ones do not have to suffer in the way we have.”
The Crown said Chua decided to take out his personal frustrations on patients “for reasons truly known only to himself”.
After police were called in, Chua “changed tack” by sabotaging prescription charts, doubling and trebling dosages – some with potentially lethal consequences – leading to his arrest in January 2012. Among the evidence produced by the prosecution was a self-penned letter found at Chua’s home in Stockport after his arrest.
In the letter, described as “the bitter nurse confession” by Chua, he said he was “an angel turned into an evil person”.
He was found guilty of murdering Tracy Arden, 44, and Alfred Weaver, 83. He was cleared of murdering Arnold Lancaster, 81, who was suffering from terminal cancer, but convicted of attempting to cause him grievous bodily harm with intent by poisoning.
Ms Arden, who had multiple sclerosis, was admitted for a “mild” chest infection and would have expected to “sail through this storm”. But she was pronounced dead eight hours after admission following treatment with a saline ampoule contaminated with insulin.
Mr Weaver was admitted with a chest infection and, after being given a saline drip, he “appeared to be in agony, eyes rolling back in his head”. He died 10 days later.
Chua’s defence team said he had been wrongly singled out and made “a scapegoat”.
Peter Griffiths, QC, said the effort Greater Manchester Police put into the investigation resulted in “huge pressure” to bring someone to account. Another Stepping Hill nurse, Rebecca Leighton, was arrested and charged in the early stages of the investigation and locked up before she was released without charge, the jury heard.
But Chua was the only nurse who was on duty at all the relevant times outlined in the prosecution case against him.
In all, Chua was convicted of two murders, 22 counts of attempted grievous bodily harm, one count of grievous bodily harm, seven attempts of administering poison and one count of administering poison. He was cleared of one count of murder, one count of manslaughter and one count of attempting to administer poison.
Mr Justice Openshaw told members of the jury he will sentence Chua today.
It has been a long journey, often distressing, sometimes frustrating Judi Jones, daughter of Mary Cartwright