Nurse Found Guilty of Murdering 7 Newborn Babies in the UK
A British nurse, Lucy Letby, 33, has been pronounced guilty of a horrific string of crimes that involved murdering seven newborn babies and attempting to kill six others. This shocking conviction has solidified Letby’s position as the most prolific child killer in the history of the UK.
The trial, which began in October last year, revealed disturbing details of Letby’s actions within the neonatal unit of the Countess of Chester Hospital, located in northwest England. She was accused of injecting sick or premature infants with air, overfeeding them with milk, and poisoning them with insulin.
The jury deliberated for an extensive 22 days, delivering their guilty verdicts on August 8, which were subject to a court order restricting publication. The initial verdicts left some jurors in tears. Following the announcement of her convictions, Letby fought back tears in the dock. However, during the final determinations delivered by the jurors, Letby was absent from the courtroom.
Although Letby was acquitted of two charges, the jury was unable to reach decisions on six others. Prosecutors have requested a 28-day period to determine whether they will seek a retrial on those unresolved charges.
Letby is scheduled to be sentenced on Monday. Despite expressing her intention to avoid attending court for the sentencing, she could potentially face the grim reality of life imprisonment.
The prosecution portrayed Letby as a “calculating” individual who employed methods of killing that left minimal traces. Her actions were deemed a complete betrayal of the trust placed in her by families and colleagues.
Colleagues had raised concerns after realizing that Letby was on duty during each baby’s collapse, with some attacks occurring immediately after parents left their infants’ cots. The prosecution asserted that Letby “gaslighted” her colleagues into believing that the deaths were mere unfortunate events.
Letby’s final victims were two triplet boys identified as babies O and P. Their tragic deaths occurred within days of each other in June 2016. Letby was also alleged to have attempted to kill the third triplet, child Q, though the jury remained deadlocked on this particular charge.
The case has brought back memories of other infamous medical murderers in the UK, such as doctor Harold Shipman, who was convicted of killing 15 patients and nurse Beverley Allitt, dubbed the “angel of death,” who was imprisoned for murdering children in her care.
Letby’s conviction raises crucial questions about patient safety, healthcare oversight, and the vulnerabilities within hospital environments. The profound impact of her actions on the families involved is an enduring reminder of the importance of vigilance in healthcare settings.
Her case revived memories of two of The United Kingdom’s infamous medical murderers, doctor Harold Shipman and nurse Beverley Allitt.
Shipman, a general practitioner, hanged himself in prison in 2004, four years after being convicted of killing 15 of his patients.
A later public inquiry concluded he killed about 250 patients with lethal morphine injections between 1971 and 1998.
Allitt – a nurse dubbed the “angel of death” – was jailed for life in 1993 after being convicted of murdering four young children in her care, attempting to murder three others and other offences.
