Who is Lucy Letby?
Lucy Letby, a 34-year-old nurse, is on retrial charged with the attempted murder of a baby girl who is known as Child K in court. The incident took place on February 17, 2016, at the neonatal unit of the Countess of Chester Hospital.
Previous Convictions
Letby was previously convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder six others between 2015 and 2016. Due to strict restrictions, the identities of the surviving and deceased babies involved in these cases cannot be published.
Current Trial
The retrial is happening because the jury in the first trial could not reach a verdict on the charge of attempted murder related to Child K. During the current trial, Letby took the stand on Monday and denied the accusations. She stated that she never tried to murder or harm Child K, nor did she ever intend to hurt any baby in her care.
Prosecution’s Allegations
The prosecution claims that a consultant paediatrician witnessed Letby standing by Child K’s incubator “doing nothing” while the baby’s blood oxygen levels were falling. Prosecutor Nick Johnson alleged that Letby had displaced the breathing tube of the tiny infant.
Child K’s Condition
Child K, who was born extremely prematurely, was transferred to a specialist hospital later the same day. Unfortunately, she died three days later. However, the prosecution does not claim that Letby caused Child K’s death.
Letby’s Denial
Letby, who is from Hereford in western England, denies the single count of attempted murder of Child K.