In a deeply disturbing case that has shocked the nation, British nurse Lucy Letby, 33, has been found guilty of murdering seven newborn babies and attempting to murder six others at the neonatal unit of the Countess of Chester Hospital. The trial, which commenced in October of last year, concluded with the jury delivering its verdicts after 22 days of deliberation.
The prosecution had accused Lucy Letby of using sinister methods to take the lives of vulnerable newborns. She was alleged to have injected air, overfed them with milk, and poisoned them with insulin. The chilling nature of the crimes has marked Letby as the UK’s most prolific child killer.
Letby’s arrest came after a series of baby deaths occurred at the neonatal unit between June 2015 and June 2016. Colleagues raised concerns about Letby’s presence during the collapse of each of the babies, with some incidents occurring right after parents had left their cots. The court learned that Letby had “gaslighted” her colleagues, attempting to convince them that the deaths were merely a string of unfortunate events.
Senior Crown Prosecutor Pascale Jones described Letby’s actions as a betrayal of the trust placed in her. “Lucy Letby was entrusted to protect some of the most vulnerable babies. Little did those working alongside her know that there was a murderer in their midst,” said Jones.
The trial revealed Letby’s calculated approach to her crimes. Her final victims were two triplet boys referred to as babies O and P. The court learned that Letby’s actions became increasingly brazen as she targeted babies during her shifts. Letby was found guilty in connection to the deaths of babies O and P, while the jury couldn’t reach a verdict on the charge related to the attempted killing of baby Q, the third triplet.
Lucy Letby’s case evoked memories of other notorious medical murderers in the UK, including doctor Harold Shipman and nurse Beverley Allitt. The court’s decision brings closure to a harrowing trial that has exposed the dark side of the medical profession.
Sources By Agencies
