On Friday, a neonatal nurse employed at a British hospital was convicted of the homicide of seven infants and an attempt to cause harm to six additional infants. Lucy Letby, 33, faced allegations of committing murder involving five male and two female infants, as well as being charged with attempting to cause harm to six other children. These incidents transpired during her tenure at the Countess of Chester Hospital located in northwest England, spanning from 2015 to 2016.
The charges against her stipulated intentional harm inflicted on the newborns through a range of actions, which encompassed injecting air into their circulatory systems and introducing air or milk into their stomachs using nasogastric tubes. According to the prosecutor Pascale Jones, Lucy Letby tried to trick her coworkers by making the harm she caused seem like the babies were just getting sicker. She used things that seem harmless, like air, milk, fluids, or even medicine like insulin, to cause deadly harm. She twisted her knowledge and skills as a nurse to hurt, make people sad, and even cause death.
_1692447943.jpg)
Jones mentioned that Letby hurt babies many times, even though the place they were in should have been safe for them and their families. This statement was made on Friday after the verdict. Letby denied all the charges. The names of the alleged victims cannot be revealed according to British law. After 22 days of deliberation, a jury consisting of seven women and four men delivered their verdict. In the course of deliberations, one juror had to leave due to personal reasons. The remaining 11 jurors were given the option by the judge to reach a decision with 10 people in agreement, instead of requiring a unanimous vote. Among the charges, Letby was found not guilty of one count of attempted murder, and the jury couldn't decide on several other charges.
Throughout the extensive trial that began in October of the previous year, prosecutors highlighted that the hospital witnessed a significant increase in the number of babies experiencing unexplained deaths or sudden health declines in 2015. Some of these babies survived severe setbacks with the help of medical staff after experiencing serious collapses.
Prosecutors alleged that Letby was on duty during these cases and depicted her as a "constant harmful presence" in the neonatal unit when these incidents occurred. They contended that the nurse caused harm to the babies in ways that left minimal evidence, while also convincing her colleagues that the collapses and deaths were normal occurrences. An investigation was initiated by the police in May 2017, leading to Letby's arrest multiple times before she was charged in November 2020.
During the trial, prosecutors presented a Post-It note found at Letby's home, reading "I am evil, I did this," as evidence of her guilt. Her defence lawyer, however, argued that Letby was a dedicated nurse who cared for her patients. He suggested that the babies' collapses and deaths might have occurred due to natural causes or factors like staffing shortages.
Letby, who testified for 14 days, denied intentionally harming any baby, emphasizing her commitment to their care. Emotional moments emerged as she discussed her notes and feelings of inadequacy. Her lawyer interpreted her notes as self-critical rather than confessions. The verdict has been reached, but sentencing for Letby's guilty charges is scheduled for Monday at 10 a.m. local time. The case has garnered significant attention and is trending in the news.
© Copyright 2023. All Rights Reserved Powered by Vygr Media.
