A Calculated Attack: Nurse Found Guilty of Attempted Murder After Paralyzing Stranger with Stolen Drug

Darren Harris, a 57-year-old nurse, has been found guilty of attempted murder after injecting a complete stranger with a paralyzing drug. The victim, Gary Lewis, owner of the Betterdaze record shop in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, was attacked by Harris on July 2nd of last year. Harris injected Lewis with Rocuronium, a powerful muscle relaxant stolen from James Cook Hospital where he worked. The injection, administered into Lewis’s buttock, left him completely paralyzed but fully conscious as he slid off his chair onto the cobblestones outside the shop. Lewis experienced the terrifying ordeal of being unable to move, speak, or react while fully aware of his surroundings before eventually losing consciousness and going into respiratory arrest. His testimony in court recounted the sheer terror of believing he was going to die, describing the experience as the most frightening of his life.

The chilling nature of the attack was further amplified by Harris’s deceptive behavior following the incident. As emergency services battled to save Lewis’s life, police repeatedly questioned Harris about the contents of the syringe. Harris remained calm, repeatedly denying having a needle and claiming the syringe contained only water. Bodycam footage captured these interactions, providing damning evidence against Harris’s fabricated account. Despite his denial, the jury deliberated for just over an hour before delivering a guilty verdict on the charge of attempted murder. Harris had admitted to injecting Lewis but claimed his intention was merely to cause temporary numbness and "give him a fright."

The prosecution highlighted the life-threatening nature of Rocuronium, explaining that it is typically used in controlled operating room settings to relax throat muscles and facilitate intubation, where patients are closely monitored and have mechanical ventilation readily available. Toxicologist Dr. David Berry, testifying in court, emphasized the deadly risk of respiratory failure when the drug is administered outside a hospital setting, where breathing muscles can become paralyzed, leading to oxygen deprivation and death. The prosecution argued that Harris, as a nurse, would have been fully aware of these dangers, strengthening the case for attempted murder.

The prosecution underscored the sheer luck involved in Lewis’s survival. Had he not been able to summon help by exiting the shop and alerting passersby, he likely would have died alone inside. His prompt communication about being injected proved crucial for his survival, as it enabled medical professionals to administer appropriate treatment quickly. Had Lewis been unable to convey this information, the delay in diagnosis and treatment could have been fatal. The prosecution painted a grim picture of the potential outcome, suggesting that without Lewis’s proactive effort to seek help, his death likely would have been attributed to natural causes.

The prosecution emphasized two profound human fears at play in the case: the sudden, unprovoked, and violent attack by a complete stranger in broad daylight, and the terrifying experience of complete paralysis coupled with full consciousness. Lewis’s ordeal captured both these fears, as he was rendered helpless and unable to communicate while fully aware of the unfolding events. This combination of factors made the attack particularly disturbing and highlighted the extreme vulnerability of the victim.

Judge Simon Phillips KC adjourned the sentencing, ordering reports to assess the risk Harris poses to the public. He warned that a life sentence would be considered at the next hearing. This case serves as a chilling reminder of the potential for violence from unexpected sources and the devastating consequences of misusing medical knowledge and access to dangerous substances. The verdict underscores the importance of holding those who abuse their positions of trust accountable for their actions.

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