Carer to stand trial accused of trying to kill elderly patients

A care worker is to stand trial later this year charged with trying to kill two elderly patients.

Calum Knox, 30, is accused of attempting to murder Ann Reid, 81, and Susan Reid, 73, in a ward at University Hospital Crosshouse in Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, in July 2018.

Prosecutors claim he did expose each to the “risk of aspiration”.

It is alleged he placed Ann Reid on her back and did “syringe” liquid into her mouth.

He is also accused of removing an oxygen mask from Susan Reid five days later and pouring liquid into her mouth.

The indictment states both women have since died.

Knox, of Ayr, South Ayrshire, faces a separate charge of neglecting the women and three other elderly patients.

It is claimed that “being a care worker” he did fail in a number of aspects.

This allegedly includes leaving the ward for “excessive periods of time” as well as falsifying records and lying to senior staff in respect of his care of patients.

Knox faces seven more charges of assaulting OAPs.

He allegedly attacked an 81-year-old woman at Crosshouse by poking her in the ribs.

The other assaults are said to occurred at Windyhall Nursing Home in Ayr.

The pensioners – who have all since passed away – were aged between 86 and 95 at the time.

The claims include striking one man on the head, causing another to fall to the floor and spraying water in the face of a woman.

Knox originally faced the allegations at the High Court in Glasgow in September 2019.

His lawyer Lorenzo Alonzi pled not guilty on his behalf at the time.

A trial was set at that hearing for February 2020, but did not go ahead.

A date had been fixed for the case to go ahead this week in Glasgow, but the Crown Office confirmed the trial has now been set for November in Edinburgh.

The case could last up to eight days.

Knox remains on bail meantime.