A nurse jailed for murdering two patients and bringing 15 more to the brink of death with lethal injections of drugs has applied to appeal against his conviction.

Benjamin Geen, 27, who is serving a minimum 30-year jail term, told the Court of Appeal his conviction was unsafe.

He was convicted at Oxford Crown Court of murder and causing grievous bodily harm while working at The Horton Hospital, Banbury.

The prosecution said Geen injected patients with drugs for the thrill of then saving them.

The Court of Appeal in London heard yesterday that new expert evidence from the USA could throw doubt on the conviction.

Last night, Robert Robinson, 56, one of Geen's patients who survived, said he was shocked to hear about the appeal.

The former police officer said: "I'll fight this all the way. The guy still haunts me even though I know he is banged up.

"I was taken to hospital last week and kicked off. I have a phobia about hospitals - I thought the doctors were going to kill me.

"I have moved away to Birmingham to put some distance between me and him.

"But I would gratefully go to court again."

John Thorburn, 78, of Claydon, near Banbury, said he had suffered ill health since he was injected, and was now totally reliant on others.

He added: "This has really knocked me back. As far as I'm concerned I don't want to know any more about him. It has been an awful time and I have really deteriorated since Christmas.

"I can hardly get down the stairs any more.

"I was never like this till I met him. I hope he stays locked up for good."

Mark McDonald, who represented Geen at yesterday's appeal hearing, argued the conviction was based on medical theory which would be undermined by fresh evidence.

Evidence from US lethal injection expert Dr Mark Heath would prove there was no evidence any of Geen's patients were given muscle relaxing drugs, Mr McDonald said.

He said: "This is a new science, which was not available at the time of Geen's trial. This is a recent and live issue in the US."

Mrs Justice Swift did not formally grant Geen permission for an appeal but adjourned the case for consideration by the full Appeal Court. No date was set for the next hearing.

An application by Mr McDonald that Geen did not have a fair trial was dismissed.