Jessie McTavish
Encyclopedia
Jessie McTavish is a Scottish
former nurse who was convicted in 1974 of murdering a patient with insulin
. The conviction was overturned on appeal in 1976. McTavish was dubbed the "Angel of Death" by the press.
of sterile water. The prosecution alleged that McTavish had been inspired by an episode of the detective series A Man Called Ironside, in which a character said that insulin was untraceable as a murder weapon. She was jailed for life in October 1974. An appeal in February 1975 was successful - three appeal judges said there was ample evidence to support the conviction but McTavish's legal team successfully argued that the judge, Lord Robertson
, had inadvertently mislead the jury. They said he had failed to highlight the fact that McTavish denied admitting to the police that she had committed a mercy killing. According to the appeal judges it was an omission that “a few words could have cured”.
Apart from the case prosecuted, another 23 cases were deemed suspicious by investigators.
, a nurse convicted of four murders in 2008, is said to have been inspired by McTavish's case. He murdered his patients using insulin.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
former nurse who was convicted in 1974 of murdering a patient with insulin
Insulin
Insulin is a hormone central to regulating carbohydrate and fat metabolism in the body. Insulin causes cells in the liver, muscle, and fat tissue to take up glucose from the blood, storing it as glycogen in the liver and muscle....
. The conviction was overturned on appeal in 1976. McTavish was dubbed the "Angel of Death" by the press.
Prosecution
McTavish was tried for the murder in 1974 of an 80 year old patient, Elizabeth Lyon and assaulting three other patients by giving them illegal injections. During the 15 day trial McTavish claimed she had only injected the patient with a placeboPlacebo
A placebo is a simulated or otherwise medically ineffectual treatment for a disease or other medical condition intended to deceive the recipient...
of sterile water. The prosecution alleged that McTavish had been inspired by an episode of the detective series A Man Called Ironside, in which a character said that insulin was untraceable as a murder weapon. She was jailed for life in October 1974. An appeal in February 1975 was successful - three appeal judges said there was ample evidence to support the conviction but McTavish's legal team successfully argued that the judge, Lord Robertson
Ian Robertson, Lord Robertson
Ian MacDonald Robertson was a High Court of Justiciary judge who contributed greatly to Scottish law.-Early life:Robertson was the youngest of six children, born in Edinburgh when his father was already 66...
, had inadvertently mislead the jury. They said he had failed to highlight the fact that McTavish denied admitting to the police that she had committed a mercy killing. According to the appeal judges it was an omission that “a few words could have cured”.
Apart from the case prosecuted, another 23 cases were deemed suspicious by investigators.
Influence
Although acquitted, McTavish's case often is mentioned in lectures at medical colleges in Britain, and is cited in textbooks and and academic papers about forensic science and medical malpractice. Colin NorrisColin Norris
Colin Campbell Norris was a Scottish nurse and convicted serial killer from the Milton area in Glasgow who was convicted of murdering four elderly patients in a hospital in Leeds, England, in 2002. He was sentenced in 2008 to serve a minimum of 30 years in prison...
, a nurse convicted of four murders in 2008, is said to have been inspired by McTavish's case. He murdered his patients using insulin.