Killer nurse Lucy Letby to be sentenced
The 33-year-old was found guilty of murdering seven babies and trying to kill another six last week
Last updated 21st Aug 2023
Killer nurse Lucy Letby, who killed seven babies whilst working as a neo-natal nurse in a Cheshire hospital is set to be sentenced later.
Last week the 33-year-old from Hereford became the UK's most prolific child killer after being found guilty of seven counts of murder and seven counts of attempted murder.
Letby will find out her punishment later in a hearing in front of trial judge Mr Justice Goss at Manchester Crown Court but faces life imprisonment.
On Friday a jury at Manchester Crown Court found Letby, 33, guilty of the murders, as well as the attempted murder of six other infants.
The neonatal nurse committed the offences whilst working at the Countess of Chester Hospital during 2015 and 2016.
More than eight months of evidence was heard in the trial. Letby had always denied any wrongdoing.
After over 110 hours of deliberations the jury returned verdicts on 16 of the charges. They failed to reach verdicts on six charges.
The CPS have until the 15th of September to decide whether to hold a retrail on those counts.
Giving evidence during her trial, Lucy Letby told Manchester Crown Court that she "never did anything to harm children" and "only did my best to care for them".
She also told the court that she was "sickened" and "devastated" when she learnt about the allegations against her.
"I don't think you can be accused of anything worse than that... I changed as a person, my mental health deteriorated", she told the jury in May.
Prosecutor Nick Johnson KC told the court that Letby did not want to admit the truth because it was "bad for her".
Mr Johnson also accused Letby of attacking nine of her alleged victims shortly after their parents left their cotsides.
He also claimed the 33-year-old falsified medical records to "cover her tracks".
Detective Superintendent Paul Hughes, Senior Investigating Officer, said: "When you listen to the evidence and actually just how delicate these babies are in the position that they're in, then you realise it becomes very clear that somebody with a sinister mind in that environment does have themselves, and can create themselves, and I believe had created themselves the opportunity to cause harm.
Detective Chief Inspector Nicola Evans, Deputy Senior Investigating Officer, said: "It's been a long journey. When you stand back it's heart-breaking and I don't think you need to be a parent to understand that or to feel that.
"Coming with that for me was just an overwhelming sense of responsibility that we give those answers they deserve."
Ms Evans added: "This whole trial has centred around Lucy Letby. She has chosen not to answer certain questions, she has chosen to be evasive in some areas and that was a choice by her.
"This now, for me, is not about Lucy Letby."