By Lucy Letby, the 34-year-old British neonatal nurse already serving a life sentence for murdering seven babies and attempting to murder six others, has been found guilty of another attempted murder. A jury at Manchester Crown Court convicted Letby of trying to kill a premature baby girl, known as Child K, in February 2016 at the Countess of Chester Hospital in northwestern England.
This latest conviction comes after a previous jury had failed to reach a verdict on this specific case. Letby was accused of attempting to murder Child K by dislodging her breathing tube multiple times on February 17, 2016. Senior Prosecutor Nicola Wyn Williams described Letby’s actions as those of “a cold-blooded, calculated killer,” alleging that the nurse removed the baby’s breathing support and was found standing by as the child struggled.
Dr. Ravi Jayaram, a pediatrician at the hospital, testified that he saw “no evidence” of Letby helping the baby when he entered the room. Throughout the trial, Letby maintained her innocence, claiming she had no recollection of the event and denying all charges against her.
The jury, comprising six women and six men, deliberated for three and a half hours before reaching their verdict. The parents of Child K were visibly emotional as the verdict was read, while Letby showed no reaction.
This conviction adds to Letby’s previous convictions from August 2023, where she was found guilty of seven murders and six attempted murders of infants under her care between June 2015 and June 2016. Her methods included injecting air into the babies’ bloodstreams and administering air or milk into their stomachs via nasogastric tubes.
Letby is currently serving a whole-life order, the most severe punishment possible under British law, which precludes any possibility of release. She is one of only four women in the UK to receive such a sentence.
This case has sent shockwaves through the British healthcare system and raised serious questions about safeguarding practices in neonatal units. As investigations continue, the focus now turns to preventing similar tragedies in the future and ensuring the safety of the most vulnerable patients in healthcare settings.
Credit: Cbsnews.com
