Inquests into deaths of 10 people linked to killer nurse Victorino Chua

Inquests will be held into the deaths of 10 people linked to killer nurse Victorino Chua.

Filipino Chua, 49, was jailed for life in May for the murder of two patients and the poisoning of 20 others while working as a nurse at Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport, Cheshire.

Six of today's inquests relate to patients who he did not kill, but he was found guilty of trying to seriously harm by poisoning at his trial, and who have subsequently died

The four others are people whose deaths did not form part of his prosecution but who died after what was initially suspected to be unexpected hypoglycaemic attacks of the types his victims suffered following insulin overdoses.

The four "new" cases concern the deaths of George Keep, 84, Raymond Jenyon, 86, Hannah Hull, 89, and Vera Pearson, 84.

The other inquests concern the deaths of Maria Pawlyszyn, 86, Beryl Hope, 70, Linda McDonagh, 60, Mary Cartwright, 69, William Dickson, 82, and John Beeley, 73.

Loved ones of those who survived said the poisonings blighted the final months and years of their lives and his victims were "never the same again."

It is understood no witnesses will be called at the inquests except for the police officers who investigated the case.

Chua's behaviour was "indescribably wicked" Mr Justice Openshaw said as he handed down 25 life sentences and ordered he serve a minimum 35 years before parole, following a four-month trial at Manchester Crown Court.

In June and July 2011 Chua had secretly injected insulin into saline bags and ampoules which were then used unwittingly by other nurses on wards at the busy hospital.

Patients would suffer hypolgycaemic attacks, most would recover after the overdoses were spotted by other nurses, but one attack left a patient, Grant Misell, 41, with brain damage and two others, Tracey Arden, 44, and Alfred Weaver, 83, died as a result.

During a massive police investigation police found a self-penned letter at Chua's home, described as "the bitter nurse confession" by Chua, who called himself "an angel turned into an evil person" and wrote "there's a devil in me".

The inquests, listed to last all day, will go before South Manchester coroner John Pollard at Stockport Coroner's Court.