s story
Lucy Letby, a former neonatal nurse, has been found guilty of murdering seven babies and attempting to kill six others at the Countess of Chester Hospital in the UK. The 33-year-old nurse deliberately injected babies with air, force fed them milk, and poisoned two infants with insulin. Letby was also charged with two counts of attempted murder, of which she was found not guilty, and the jury was unable to reach verdicts on six further attempted murder charges. The verdicts were delivered over several hearings, and Letby refused to appear in the dock for the latest verdicts.
During the trial, the prosecution described Letby as a “calculating and devious” opportunist who “gaslighted” colleagues to cover her “murderous assaults”. The trial lasted for more than 10 months, making it the longest murder trial in the UK. Letby will be sentenced at Manchester Crown Court on Monday.
The parents of one of Letby’s victims, twin brothers, described her as a “hateful human being” who had taken “everything” from them. One of the babies was killed by Letby, while the other twin survived but suffered severe learning difficulties and complex needs. The families of the victims expressed their heartbreak, devastation, anger, and numbness over the crimes.
Letby’s crimes were discovered following a two-year investigation by Cheshire Police into the rise in deaths and near-fatal collapses of premature babies at the hospital. Detectives are now reviewing the care of approximately 4,000 babies admitted to the hospital while Letby was working as a neonatal nurse. The government has ordered an independent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Letby’s killing spree, including the handling of concerns and governance at the hospital.
The sentencing hearing for Letby is scheduled for Monday, and she has indicated that she does not want to attend or follow the proceedings via videolink from prison. The Ministry of Justice has stated that the Lord Chancellor wants all those found guilty to hear society’s condemnation at their sentencing hearing, and legislation to force convicted criminals to appear in court for their sentencing is currently being examined.Nurse Lucy Letby has been found guilty of murdering seven babies and attempting to kill six others while working as a neonatal nurse at the Countess of Chester Hospital in the UK. The 33-year-old targeted the infants between June 2015 and June 2016, deliberately injecting them with air, force-feeding them milk, and poisoning two with insulin. Letby, who refused to appear in court for the verdicts, broke down in tears as the guilty verdicts were read out. She was also found not guilty of two counts of attempted murder, while the jury was unable to reach verdicts on six further attempted murder charges. The prosecution described Letby as a “calculating and devious” opportunist who “gaslighted” colleagues to cover her crimes. Letby will be sentenced on Monday. The case has prompted a review of the care of 4,000 babies admitted to the hospital during Letby’s time there.
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Ion, and anger at Letby’s actions, and called for her to receive the harshest possible sentence.
Letby’s actions have sent shockwaves through the healthcare community, and the Countess of Chester Hospital has launched an internal investigation to determine if there were any failings in their systems that allowed Letby to carry out her crimes unnoticed. The hospital reiterated their commitment to patient safety and stated that they had implemented additional measures to prevent a similar tragedy from occurring in the future.
The case has also raised questions about the mental health support available to healthcare professionals, particularly those working in high-pressure environments such as neonatal units. Experts have emphasized the need for better mental health resources and support systems for healthcare workers, as the stress and emotional toll of their jobs can be immense.
The sentencing on Monday will mark the end of a long and painful journey for the victims’ families, who have endured unimaginable grief and loss. While Letby has been found guilty of these heinous crimes, the scars left behind by her actions will forever remain.
This case serves as a heartbreaking reminder of the vulnerability of infants in healthcare settings and the trust placed in healthcare professionals to care for them. It is essential for hospitals and healthcare organizations to prioritize patient safety and to continually evaluate and strengthen their systems to prevent such tragedies in the future.
Unthinkable and heartbreaking. My thoughts go out to the families affected by this tragedy.