Lucy Letby guilty of trying to kill baby
Picture provided by Cheshire Police
Lucy Letby has already been found guilty of killing seven babies and trying to kill six more.
Judith Moritz & PA Media have collaborated and co-written a blog post together.
Ex-nurse Lucy Letby has been convicted of attempting to harm a premature infant girl.
The 34-year-old was found guilty of trying to kill the child, known as Baby K in court, after a new trial.
Baby K's family said that they had to go through a very difficult and emotional experience not once, but twice.
"Today, the legal system has finally done its job. However, it doesn't erase the deep pain, frustration, and suffering that we all had to endure," they expressed.
In August of last year, Letby was found guilty by another group of people for killing seven babies and trying to kill six others at the neo-natal unit of the Countess of Chester Hospital. This happened from June 2015 to June 2016.
But a decision could not be made about the accusation involving Baby K, so a new trial was scheduled to take place at Manchester Crown Court.
Lucy Letby: The family of the baby is devastated and upset after the guilty verdict.
The jury in the second trial concluded that she was guilty of attempting to kill the "extremely premature" baby by removing her breathing tube on the morning of February 17, 2016.
Baby K's parents were shocked and emotional as they listened to the jury foreman announce the verdict, which came after three and a half hours of deliberation.
Letby appeared calm and composed in the dock, displaying no visible emotion.
Detective Chief Inspector Nicola Evans from Cheshire Police commended the bravery, determination, and toughness of the child's parents. She mentioned that they had to constantly deal with Letby's rejections.
She expressed gratitude for their ongoing trust in us and expressed hope that today's resolution would bring them some comfort and the answers they've been seeking.
There are no victors in this situation. Today is not a day for revelry - it is a day for introspection and a day for Baby K's family.
In court, it was revealed that Letby singled out the baby soon after she was transferred from the delivery room to the neo-natal unit following her early arrival.
Picture credit: Helen Tipper
Letby informed the court that she could not remember removing Baby K's breathing tube.
The group of people who decide if someone is guilty or not agreed that the ex-nurse removed the tube helping the baby breathe and just stood next to her bed, watching her blood oxygen levels go down, without doing anything to help.
Pediatric consultant Dr. Ravi Jayaram had caught her almost in the act when he walked into the intensive care room around 03:45.
Dr. Jayaram, who stepped in to revive the child, informed the jury that he did not observe any signs that Letby had assisted the baby as its condition worsened.
He stated that he did not hear Letby calling for help or any alarms alerting to Baby K's sudden drop in blood oxygen levels.
Letby informed the jury comprised of equal numbers of women and men that she could not remember any such occurrence.
She claimed that she did not harm Baby K in any way and kept saying that she was innocent of all the crimes she was found guilty of committing.
Baby K was moved to a special hospital on February 17th due to being born very early. Unfortunately, she passed away three days later at the hospital. The official cause of her death was noted as extreme prematurity and serious difficulty breathing.
After more than two years had passed, in April 2018, Letby reportedly looked up Baby K's last name on Facebook.
Prosecutor Nick Johnson KC stated that Lucy Letby had a consistent habit of searching for similar Facebook posts. He told the jury that Lucy had a strong interest in the babies she had killed or tried to kill, as well as their families.
She enjoyed committing murder with her own hands.
Picture credit: Cheshire Police
Lucy Letby, shown being taken into custody at her residence in Chester
Letby's legal team claimed that her guilty verdicts should be overturned on appeal because the jurors may not have been completely sure of her guilt. This information can now be shared.
In April of this year, her legal team tried to challenge her murder and attempted murder convictions in the Court of Appeal, but their efforts were unsuccessful.
Her lawyer Ben Myers argued that the judge at the trial, Mr. Justice Goss, made a mistake by telling the jury that they didn't have to be certain about the specific action that caused harm to Letby's victims.
He stated that it was important for them to be informed and confident in their actions. They needed to be sure of the specific act that was being accused of intentional harm.
However, the prosecutor Mr. Johnson KC argued that the defense's claim was not valid. He emphasized that while medical evidence was a crucial factor in the prosecution's case, it was only one aspect of the overall circumstances. Mr. Johnson KC also pointed out that Letby was consistently present during the events in question.
The defence team for Letby also presented additional reasons, such as their concerns about how the judge handled issues of "jury irregularity."
Dame Victoria Sharp and Lord Justice Holroyde rejected Letby's request in May, with their written explanation to be released at a later time.
Prosecutors believe Lucy Letby is a ruthless, deliberate murderer.
Dr. Nigel Scawn, who serves as the medical director at the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, expressed deep regret that these terrible crimes took place within the hospital's premises.
He added: "After Lucy Letby was employed at our hospital, we have implemented major alterations to our services and continue to focus on delivering top-notch, secure care to the people in our area."
Dr Scawn recognized the lasting effect of the Letby case on all those involved, stating that he appreciated the consistent support and professionalism of our team members. Some staff even went back to court to provide testimony and revisit difficult moments.
Letby was first accused of killing Baby K, but the case was thrown out in June 2022 when the prosecutors failed to present any evidence.
In May, Letby tried to challenge her convictions in the Court of Appeal but was unsuccessful.
She will receive her punishment for trying to kill Baby K on 5 July.
An investigation into how Letby was able to carry out her crimes in the neo-natal unit will start at Liverpool Town Hall on 10 September.
Detective Superintendent Simon Blackwell stated that the inquiry into corporate manslaughter at the hospital, initiated in October 2023, is still ongoing. The investigation is examining various aspects such as the actions of top management and decision-making processes from June 2015 to June 2016.
He stated that currently, the police force was not looking into any specific persons regarding gross negligence manslaughter.
The investigator stated that he acknowledged the important influence on various individuals and "we want to assure you that we are dedicated to conducting a comprehensive inquiry".
