Doctor prescribed murder accused 191 tablets for back pain

A DOCTOR yesterday told a court that murder accused Malcolm Webster visited her GP practice in Aberdeen five times complaining of a bad back and was prescribed a total of 191 Diazepam tablets.

Dr Jennifer Brownhill, 49, was giving evidence at the trial of 51-year-old Webster who denies trying to kill his second wife Felicity Drumm by drugging her and by staging a car crash. He also denies murdering his first wife Claire Webster in a fireball car crash in Aberdeenshire in 1994.

She told advocate depute Derek Ogg QC, prosecuting, that Webster first visited the practice on February 1998 complaining of back pain after taking a printer out of the loft of his Aberdeenshire home.

Mr Ogg said: "He complained of pain due to spasms," and Dr Brownhill replied: "That's correct."

The court was told that on this first consultation Webster was prescribed 20 Diazepam tablets as a muscle relaxant and Brufen to deal with inflammation.

Dr Brownhill said Webster was back the following week and added: "His medical notes say that he returned. He said he continued to have pain in his lower back especially in bed and was having difficulty sleeping."

The jury heard that Webster was told to put ice on the affected area and was prescribed a further 21 Diazepam tablets and 60 Diclofenac tablets.

Webster went back to the GP practice on April 14, 1998, this time complaining of a recurrence of his lower back pain after lifting heavy suitcases into a car.

Dr Brownhill said: "It is documented that it gets worse at night and he had occasional pins and needles if lying on his back. He was walking normally."

This time Webster was given 60 Diclofenac tablets and 30 Diazepam.

He returned to the doctor again on May 6, 1998, saying he was still having problems with back pain and was given 50 Diazepam tablets.

His final visit to the GP surgery was on July 23, 1998.

Dr Brownhill: "There was further problems with low back pain after lifting a baby bath."

Mr Ogg: "He says he had difficulty bending over and had tingling down his left leg,"

Dr Brownhill: "That's correct."

On this occasion Webster was given 60 Diazapam tablets and 84 Diclofenac tablets.

Mr Ogg said: "So between February and July 1998 Mr Webster was given 191 Diazepam tablets and he would legitimately have these in prescription bottles?" and Dr Brownhill replied: "Yes. That's correct."

Mr Ogg added: "If anyone found them in his house he would be able to say it is for my back pain?" and she replied: "Yes."

Defence QC Edgar Prais did not cross-examine Dr Brownhill.

Webster denies two charges of trying to murder his second wife Miss Drumm. Webster is also alleged to have tried to kill her by administering Clonazepam and other controlled drugs to her severe injury and to the danger of her unborn child.