Child serial killer Lucy Letby faces being struck off as nurse at hearing

Child serial killer Lucy Letby does not oppose a bid to strike her from the nursing register but maintains her innocence in respect of her convictions, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has been told.

The 33-year-old was sentenced in August to 14 whole-life orders after being convicted of murdering seven babies and trying to murder six others, with two bids on one victim.

Her crimes happened on the Countess of Chester Hospital's neonatal unit, where she worked, between June 2015 and June 2016.

At a hearing in east London on Tuesday, Christopher Scott, for the NMC, told a fitness to practice panel that Letby faces 14 charges, brought by the council, which reflect her criminal convictions.

Mr Scott said it is "a matter of legal fact" that Letby was convicted of seven counts each of murder and attempted murder at Manchester Crown Court in August.

The panel was told Letby was asked in a "tick-box exercise" if she accepts the NMC charges.

She ticked "yes" to each of the charges but added: "I do not wish to take part or be present at the hearing. I do not resist the application to strike me off the nursing register.

"I accept the fact of the convictions. However I do not accept that I am guilty of any of the allegations.

"I maintain my innocence in respect of all of the convictions.

"These convictions are now the subject of an appeal."

Mr Scott will ask the panel to strike Letby off.

Letby, of Hereford, was told of the hearing but did not attend and was not represented.

The panel decided to proceed in her absence.

She faces a retrial next June for one count of attempted murder.

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