Nurse Lucy Letby Convicted Of Murdering 7 Babies Under Her Care Is Sentenced To Life In Prison

Former British neonatal nurse Lucy Letby has been sentenced to life in prison for killing seven infants and attempting to kill six others between 2015 and 2016.

The 33-year-old received a whole-life sentence due to the exceptionally high severity of her offenses. During a 10-month trial, Letby was found guilty of 14 out of 22 charges, including a "cruel, calculated, and cynical campaign of child murder." 

Her lack of remorse and a history of force-feeding, poisoning, and injecting infants with air were revealed. Letby also wrote a condolence card to a victim's family, maintaining a façade until her arrest in 2018.

Keep on reading to learn more.

Lucy Letby, the British neonatal nurse formerly employed in the neonatal ward at Countess of Chester Hospital in Chester, England, was found guilty of killing seven infants and attempting to kill six others between 2015 and 2016 and has received a life sentence in prison.

On Monday, Judge Justice Goss announced that the 33-year-old would be subject to a life sentence as the severity of her offenses is "exceptionally high."

In a statement from the Crown Prosecution Service, shared in a court video by BBC, Goss emphasized, "Because the seriousness of your offenses is exceptionally high, I direct that the early release provisions do not apply. The order of the court therefore is a whole life order on each and every offense and you will spend the rest of your life in prison."

During a 10-month trial at Manchester Crown Court, Letby was convicted of 14 out of 22 possible counts and was found guilty of the charges despite her not-guilty pleas. The jury was divided on the attempted murder charges for four other babies.

For her sentencing, Letby chose not to appear in court, but the judge noted her lack of remorse and described her actions as a "cruel, calculated, and cynical campaign of child murder," specifically targeting the most fragile and vulnerable infants.

Pascale Jones from the Crown Prosecution Service mentioned in a statement obtained by People magazine that Letby's sentence ensures "she will never again be able to inflict the suffering she did while working as a neonatal nurse."

Jones acknowledged that justice was served and extended her sympathy to the victims' families, hoping that the trial provided them with the answers they sought in the face of their significant suffering. "I hope that the trial has brought answers which had long eluded them," she said.

During the trial, Letby was accused by the prosecution of force-feeding babies' milk, administering poison like insulin, and injecting some with air.

Former colleagues who testified during the trial recalled witnessing Letby's unusual behavior. 

In 2016, after a series of mysterious deaths and near-deaths of infants under her care, Letby was removed from the neonatal ward, arousing suspicion among senior hospital staff.

Tragically, five boys and two girls lost their lives while under Letby's care in the neonatal ward.

Detective Chief Inspector Nicola Evans, who oversaw Letby's police interviews during the investigation, revealed that Letby initially appeared to be an ordinary woman in her 20s with a vibrant social life and numerous friends. However, Evans emphasized that a significant deception occurred involving Letby's family and friends.

During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence of Post-It notes found at Letby's residence. In these notes, she had written chilling statements such as "evil" and "killed them on purpose," per People.

Until her arrest in July 2018, the families of the infants had never suspected Letby's involvement in the tragic deaths.

Detective Evans expressed that none of the families could have anticipated harm coming to their babies in a neonatal unit, "Therefore, they didn't have any suspicions because why on earth would they."

Letby's efforts to maintain a facade extended even further as she wrote a condolence card to the family of one of the victims, expressing regret for not being able to attend the funeral. 

The sympathy card read, "There are no words to make this time any easier. It was a real privilege to care for [the child] and get to know you as a family — a family who always put [child] first and did everything possible for her. She will always be part of your lives and we will never forget her. Thinking of you today and always."

Following Letby's sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Evans, in a statement to People, remarked that the whole-life sentence reflects the "true scale and gravity of her horrific crimes."

While acknowledging that nothing can erase the pain endured by the families, Evans expressed hope "that the significant sentence will bring some comfort at this dark time."