British nurse Lucy Letby imprisoned for life for the murders of seven babies and attempted murders of six

British nurse Lucy Letby imprisoned for life for the murders of 7 babies and attempted murders of 6

Lucy Letby, a former neonatal nurse, has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a whole-life order for murdering seven babies and attempting to kill six others while working at the Countess of Chester hospital. She is the fourth woman in UK history to receive such a sentence, and the worst child serial killer in modern British history.

Letby, 33, was found guilty by a jury at Manchester Crown Court on 18 August 2023, after a 10-month trial that heard harrowing evidence of her "cruel, calculated and cynical campaign" of killing and harming vulnerable newborns between June 2015 and June 2016. She had denied all the charges against her.

The court heard that Letby had injected lethal doses of insulin or potassium into the babies' bloodstreams, causing them to suffer cardiac arrest or brain damage. She then pretended to resuscitate them or call for help, while secretly enjoying the power and control she had over life and death.

The prosecution said that Letby had a "sadistic" motive for her crimes, and that she was "obsessed" with death and dying. They presented evidence of handwritten notes found in her bedroom, where she confessed to being "evil" and killing the babies "on purpose". They also showed confidential hospital documents that she had collected and hidden in her home, relating to some of the victims.

The defence argued that Letby was innocent, and that there was no scientific proof that she had administered the fatal substances. They suggested that there were other possible causes for the babies' deaths or collapses, such as infections, genetic conditions or medical errors. They also claimed that Letby was a "caring and compassionate" nurse who loved her job and the babies she looked after.

The judge, Mr Justice Goss, rejected the defence's arguments and said that Letby had shown "no remorse" for her actions. He said that she had betrayed the trust of the parents, the hospital staff and the public, and that she had caused "unimaginable pain and suffering" to the families of the babies. He said that her crimes were "so exceptionally serious" that only a whole-life order was justified.

Letby did not attend the sentencing hearing, as she had refused to come into court. She watched the proceedings via video link from prison, where she will spend the rest of her days. The judge said that he had no power to compel her to appear in person, but he hoped that she would listen to the impact statements from some of the parents of the babies.

The parents spoke of their grief, anger and trauma over losing their children or seeing them suffer at the hands of Letby. They described how their lives had been shattered by her actions, and how they struggled with guilt, anxiety and depression. They also expressed their relief and gratitude for the justice they had finally received after years of waiting.

The case of Lucy Letby has shocked and saddened the nation, and raised serious questions about how such a prolific killer could have gone undetected for so long. The Countess of Chester hospital has apologised for its failings and said that it has implemented changes to improve its safety and quality standards. The police have also said that they are investigating whether there are more potential victims of Letby's crimes.

Sources: 

(1) The curious case of Lucy Letby: What motivated the neonatal nurse to murder 7 newborns. https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/other/the-curious-case-of-lucy-letby-what-motivated-the-neonatal-nurse-to-murder-7-newborns/ar-AA1fzEhJ.

(2) Lucy Letby’s sobbing mum whispered eight words as her daughter was found guilty. https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/lucy-letbys-sobbing-mum-whispered-eight-words-as-her-daughter-was-found-guilty/ar-AA1fs6mG.

(3) Lucy Letby Trial: Baby Serial Killer Nurse Sentenced to Life in Prison. https://www.news18.com/world/lucy-letby-trial-live-updates-uk-baby-killer-nurse-8544734.html.

(4) The evidence seen during Lucy Letby's murder trial, from handwritten .... https://news.sky.com/story/the-evidence-seen-during-lucy-letbys-murder-trial-from-handwritten-notes-to-cards-for-parents-12944606.

FAQ's

Where is Lucy Letby now?

Lucy Letby is now one of 71 people serving whole-life sentences in England and Wales. The former neonatal nurse was given 14 for the murders of seven babies and attempted murder of six others during her time at the Countess of Chester Hospital.

How many years did Lucy Letby get?

Lucy Letby sentenced to whole life order Lucy Letby has been sentenced to a whole life order at Manchester Crown Court. The sentence means the 33-year-old will spend the rest of her life in prison for the murders of seven babies and attempted murders of six others at the Countess of Chester Hospital.

Who is Lucy Letby family?

Letby was born in Hereford on January 4, 1990, the only child of furniture boss John Letby, then 44, and accounts clerk Susan Letby, then 29.

When was Lucy Letby working?

Lucy Letby (born 4 January 1990, in Hereford) is a registered nurse from Chester, who worked in the neonatal unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital from 2011 to 2016, before being moved to clerical duties from 2016 to 2018.