Lucy Letby's Conviction as UK's Most Prolific Child Serial-Killer

author: FutureCar Staff    

Lucy Letby, a nurse at the Countess of Chester hospital, has been found guilty of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder six others between June 2015 and June 2016. She was acquitted of two counts of attempted murder. The judge has imposed reporting restrictions until the end of the trial, preventing the identification of the victims and their families. This order is due to the sibling relationships and the fact that the parents would be giving evidence.

The jury delivered the guilty verdicts in partial verdicts over several days. The parents of the victims were present in the public gallery and tears were shed as the first guilty verdicts were read out. The jury had deliberated for over 110 hours and 26 minutes. The mother of one of Letby's victims, known as Baby E, broke down in tears as it was revealed that her baby had been murdered. The jury had already unanimously decided that Letby attempted to kill the child's twin sibling.

There was a collective gasp from the parents when the jury revealed that Letby had also attempted to murder Baby G, who now suffers from quadriplegic cerebral palsy and requires constant care. Letby, who wept uncontrollably during the delivery of the first verdicts, is likely to receive a whole life order, meaning she will never be released from prison. She stopped attending the courtroom as the case neared its end and refused to appear for the final round of verdicts.

Letby's mother, Susan Letby, also broke down in tears upon hearing the first murder verdicts. She exclaimed, "You can't be serious, this can't be right." Only two other women in British history have received a whole life prison order - Joanna Dennehy, who murdered three men in 2013, and Rose West, who conspired with her husband to torture and murder ten young women in the 1970s and 80s.

During the trial, the lead prosecutor suggested that Letby enjoyed "playing God" with the lives of the children in her care. However, the detectives leading the investigation admitted that they may never know the exact motives behind Letby's actions. They expressed a desire for Letby to provide answers herself.

The police investigation, known as Operation Hummingbird, was launched in May 2017 after senior doctors at the Countess of Chester hospital raised concerns about the number of babies suffering unexpected collapses and dying in the neonatal unit. Letby was a suspect due to her frequent presence during these incidents. The investigation was conducted with an open mind, but Letby's name kept coming up in connection with the collapses. Detectives compiled evidence showing that Letby was the only staff member present at every single suspicious collapse during the specified period.

Letby has maintained her innocence throughout the trial, claiming that she did nothing to harm the babies. She suggested that she was being made a scapegoat for the understaffed maternity unit. However, test results showed that the children had abnormal levels of insulin and C-peptide in their blood, indicating external administration of insulin. The perpetrator would have needed access to a locked fridge in the neonatal unit, but there was no specific keyholder and no record of who had the key at any given time.

The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust expressed deep sadness and horror at Letby's crimes. They apologized for the incidents and extended their thoughts to the affected families. The hospital has made significant changes to its services since Letby worked there. The trust thanked Cheshire Police for their extensive investigation and support provided to the families. The hospital reassured patients that they can have confidence in the care they receive.

During Letby's arrest, police discovered notes she had written on Post-It notes, expressing self-blame and remorse. The prosecution presented months of expert evidence, leading the jury to conclude that Letby was indeed responsible for the crimes.

FutureCar Staff