A Dundee band have defended their decision to take part in a fundraising concert for a former nurse who was convicted of killing four elderly patients.
The Cundeez are among the acts confirmed for the benefit gig at Beat Generator Live! in North Lindsay Street later this month an event which has been criticised by a local pensioners group.
Singer and Dundee street poet Gary Robertson from the band said they had been approached by a good friend who had explained the case to them and they felt they wanted to get involved as it seemed a “just cause”.
Ninewells-trained Colin Norris dubbed the Angel of Death after being found guilty of murdering four pensioners and trying to end the life of another was sentenced to a minimum of 30 years behind bars.
Norris, 35, was branded a “thoroughly dangerous and evil man” by a judge after he was found to have deliberately injected elderly patients with insulin at a hospital in Leeds in 2002.
Since then, some medical experts have raised questions over evidence used.
Campaigners say he was wrongly convicted and say the elderly patients could have died of natural causes.
The Criminal Cases Review Commission is now looking at the case and campaigners are hoping new evidence can clear Norris’ name.
Gary told The Courier: “Our friend Joyce Gillanders explained it to Stevie (bass player) and me a wee while back and asked if we would play at the gig.
“She told us all the info and gave me a book about it. Joyce totally believes in the injustice of it and, knowing her very well, I trust her. She wouldn’t get involved in something that she felt wasn’t a just cause.
“We’ve seen both sides of the argument. We’re just listening with open ears. We wouldn’t be willing to put ourselves up for something if somebody was obviously guilty.
“We totally believe in Joyce and when she explained it to us we had no hesitation. Hopefully the gig will create awareness because that’s really what it’s all about.”
The Cundeez are also playing Punk for Pam, a fundraiser in memory of an Edinburgh woman at the Liquid Rooms in the capital next week.
Pam Craig, who met Norris when he was training in Dundee, said: “For people who don’t know his case a fundraiser may seem strange, but that’s the whole point to make people aware.
“We want people to look at it and highlight it because we think it is a huge miscarriage of justice.”
The event, on Saturday, March 29, will also include performances by acoustic musician Rhuari Campbell, as well as several comedians.