A British nurse named Lucy Letby has been found guilty of murdering seven newborn babies and attempting to kill six others at a hospital in northwest England where she worked. The verdict, reached after a 10-month trial, makes Letby Britain’s most prolific serial child killer in modern history. She was convicted of killing five baby boys and two baby girls between 2015 and 2016. Letby injected some of her victims with insulin, while others were injected with air or force fed milk. She left a handwritten note confessing to the killings, stating that she is a “horrible evil person.” Letby will be sentenced on Monday and may receive a full life sentence.
Letby’s actions came to light when doctors at the hospital became concerned about the number of unexplained deaths and collapses in the neonatal unit. After a lengthy investigation, Letby was identified as the “constant malevolent presence” during these incidents. Despite her seemingly happy and smiling demeanor on social media, Letby was described as a determined killer during the trial. She had attempted to murder one baby girl on four occasions before succeeding. Detectives found evidence at her home, including paperwork and medical notes related to the case, as well as social media searches for the families of the murdered babies.
During her trial, Letby claimed that she had never tried to harm the babies and blamed unsafe staffing levels and dirty conditions on the ward. She also accused four doctors of conspiring against her. However, the prosecution argued that Letby was a cold, cruel, and calculating liar who repeatedly changed her account of events. Detectives could not determine a motive for her actions. The hospital has faced criticism for failing to investigate allegations against Letby and failing to address concerns raised by staff members.
The government has ordered an independent inquiry to investigate how the hospital handled the situation. Police are also conducting further investigations to determine if there are any more victims. Letby will be sentenced on Monday and faces a lengthy prison term, possibly a full life sentence. The families of Letby’s victims expressed their heartbreak and devastation, stating that they may never truly understand why this happened.
