A PHARMACIST told a jury yesterday that a doctor accused of triple murder had asked him for morphine for a dying man.

Alisdair McConnell, who works at a pharmacy next door to Dr Howard Martin's surgery, said the doctor requested 60mg vials of morphine for a patient.

He told the jury it did not appear to him that the GP was at work the day he came into the pharmacy just before closing time on January 21.

Mr McConnell, a pharmacist for 18 years, said: "He said to me he needed some morphine for a dying man. I got the impression he was not at work. Because of his appearance, he was wearing a old jumper, and the fact he did not want to go into the surgery to get a request form for me.

"He did not want to be distracted. I think he felt it was urgent and he wanted to get the drugs he requested and then go.

"He said he would provide me with a signed order in the morning."

The court heard Dr Martin visited the Village Pharmacy, Cobblers Hall, Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, to request 60mg vials of morphine, but none were in stock.

Mr McConnell said he offered the GP an alternative of 30mg of morphine but the doctor declined, saying he did not want to give his patient two injections.

The pharmacist said he had 10mg, 30mg and 100mg of diamorphine that he could give Dr Martin.

Mr McConnell told the jury: "He said, 'well, that will have to do then'. I presumed he would want to give a dosage of 60mg of morphine in one injection and the only way he could do that was to give a portion of the 100mg vial."

The pharmacist, who said he had known the accused for some time, said he provided Dr Martin with a sealed box of five vials of 100mg of diamorphine.

Under cross examination, Mr McConnell denied he had discussed his police statement with anyone before giving evidence.

Dr Martin, of North Wales, is accused of murdering Frank Moss, 59, of Eldon, near Bishop Auckland, Stanley Weldon, 74, of Coundon Grange, and Harry Gittins, 74, of Newton Aycliffe.

The trial continues.