Face of evil – killer nurse Lucy Letby was today sentenced to jail for the rest of her life.
Democrat reporter
Sky News is reporting that serial killer nurse Lucy Letby has been sentenced to a whole life tariff behind bars for murdering seven newborn babies, and attempting to kill six more.
Letby was found guilty of 14 of the 22 counts she faced on Friday, following a 10-month trial at Manchester Crown Court.The 33-year-old, originally from Hereford, refused to attend court for the verdicts or sentencing.
The killings took place between 2015 and 2016 while Letby was working on the neonatal unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital in Cheshire.She injected air into the babies via their tubes, causing air embolisms and leaving them unable to breathe, as well as over-feeding some.
The jury also found her guilty of attempting to kill six babies, including two by poisoning them with insulin.
Sentencing of Lucy Letby underway as child killer refuses to attend court
Letby added un-prescribed insulin to a bag, or bags, containing nutrients which were then given to the babies.In both cases, the youngsters – known only as Baby F and Baby L – had hypoglycaemic episodes in which their bloody sugar levels dropped dangerously low. Both went on to make full recoveries.
During sentencing, Mr Justice Goss, pictured top of page, said it was not part of his role to “reach conclusions about the underlying reasons” for Letby’s actions.
“Nor could I, for they are known only to you,” he added.
Sentencing Letby to life in prison, Mr Justice Goss said: “You acted in a way that was completely contrary to the normal human instinct of nurturing and caring for babies.”
“There is no doubt that you are intelligent and outwardly were a very conscientious, hard working, knowledgable and confident nurse which allowed you to harm babies on the unit,” he added.
After the babies’ deaths, Mr Justice Goss said she “cruelly and callously made inappropriate remarks to some of the grieving parents”.
“The impact of your crimes has been immense, disclosed by the deeply moving personal statements that have been read to the court this morning.
“The lives of newborn or relatively new born babies were ended almost as soon as they began and lifelong harm has been caused, all in horrific circumstances.He continued: “Loving parents have been robbed of their cherished children and others have to live with the physical and mental consequences of your actions.
“Siblings have been deprived of brothers and sisters, you have caused deep psychological trauma, brought enduring grief and feelings of guilt.
“Caused strains in relationships and disruption to the lives of all the families of all your victims.
Mr Justice Goss also said “there was premeditation, calculation and coming” in Letby’s actions.