Alison Firth, 53, (pictured, before she was jailed) was handed a life sentence for murdering 84-year-old stroke victim, Alice Grant in 2000
A killer nurse branded the ‘Angel of Death’ for murdering an elderly woman at a care home is to be released from jail after 17 years behind bars.
Alison Firth, 53, was handed a life sentence for administering a powerful un-prescribed sedative to 84-year-old stroke victim, Alice Grant in 2000.
The mother-of-one was described as ‘evil’ by police but has now been granted her freedom by a parole board.
Firth had deliberately served the drug Heminevrin to dementia suffer Ms Grant, leaving her gasping for breath in the moments before she died.
She had earlier complained to a colleague at having to care for the grandmother, who needed half-an-hour’s attention every two hours.
Firth was heard saying: ‘I wish Alice would hurry up and die – it would give me something to do’, her trial at Newcastle Crown Court was told.
She had been annoyed by staff changes at Aidan House care home in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, and prosecutors said her dissatisfaction was either with her employers or ‘with life in general.’
Elderly Alice’s death led to police quizzing the owners of around 30 other homes where Firth had worked, but no further criminal charges were lodged.
Following Firth’s conviction, the police chief who led the inquiry against her branded her as ‘evil and lazy.’
Detective Superintendent Chris Symonds said: ‘She’s an extremely unprofessional nurse.
Firth was heard saying: ‘I wish Alice would hurry up and die – it would give me something to do’, her trial at Newcastle Crown Court (pictured) was told
‘She’d rather spend her time asleep on duty rather than care for her patients.’
Firth, aged 36 years at the time, was later struck off from ever working as a nurse by the General Nursing Council.
According to a fellow inmate, she had never shown any remorse for killing Alice.
‘Its all about her, ‘ said the inmate, ‘She was expecting parole.’
A spokesman for the Parole Board said today/yesterday (Tues): ‘We can confirm that a panel of the Parole Board has directed the release of Alison Firth.’