Title: Neonatal Nurse Found Guilty of Killing Seven Babies at British Hospital
Subtitle: Lucy Letby Injected Air and Other Substances into Newborns, Resulting in Deaths and Serious Harm
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In a shocking development, Lucy Letby, a neonatal nurse at the Countess of Chester Hospital in northwest England, has been found guilty of killing seven babies and attempting to kill six others. The 33-year-old nurse was charged with murder in the deaths of five boys and two girls, as well as the attempted murder of six other infants during her tenure at the hospital between 2015 and 2016.
Letby was accused of deliberately harming the newborns through various means, including injecting air into their bloodstreams and administering air or milk into their stomachs via nasogastric tubes. Prosecutors argued that she sought to deceive her colleagues by disguising these actions as a worsening of each baby’s existing vulnerability. Harmless substances like air, milk, fluids, and even medication like insulin became lethal in her hands. They described Letby’s actions as a perversion of her profession, inflicting harm, grief, and death on innocent infants.
“Time and again, she harmed babies, in an environment which should have been safe for them and their families,” stated prosecutor Pascale Jones following the verdict.
The alleged victims, whose identities are protected by British law, suffered from sudden collapses and deaths for no apparent reason, leading to an investigation into the hospital’s neonatal unit. Letby was consistently on duty during these incidents and was described as a “constant malevolent presence” during the collapses or deaths. Prosecutors claimed that Letby’s actions didn’t leave much evidence and that she successfully persuaded her colleagues that these incidents were normal.
The trial, which started in October 2020, revealed a significant rise in baby deaths and sudden health deteriorations beginning in 2015. Some infants experienced serious catastrophic collapses but were saved by medical staff. Letby was arrested multiple times during the investigation, with her “I am evil, I did this” confession note found at her home considered as compelling evidence.
While Letby’s defense lawyer argued that there was insufficient evidence to prove her guilt, claiming that the infants’ collapses and deaths could have been due to natural causes or other factors, the jury ultimately found her guilty on multiple charges. She was acquitted on one charge of attempted murder, and the jury couldn’t reach a verdict on some others.
During her testimony, Letby maintained her innocence, stating that she always did her best to care for the babies and was not responsible for their harm. The defense argued that Letby’s notes were the desperate writings of someone who had lost confidence in herself and blamed herself for what had transpired.
Letby’s sentencing for all guilty charges will take place at 10 a.m. local time on Monday. This case has brought a tragic spotlight to the hospital and raised concerns about the safety and well-being of newborns in medical care.
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