The trial has started against Lucy Letby (32) in the British city of Manchester. The pediatric nurse is suspected of having killed seven babies and made ten more attempted murders. Her methods varied: some victims were given an overdose of insulin or milk through the feeding tube, in others she injected air into the bloodstream. “A poisoner was at work here for a year,” it sounded in the courtroom.
Letby was able to strike undisturbed at Chester Hospital for a long time. Since 2012, she has worked in the neonatology department, where sick or premature infants are cared for. Three years later, three babies suddenly died in two weeks, the beginning of a pitch-black period. After all, even more newborns deteriorated rapidly. Doctors found no medical explanation.
It was not until June 2016 that the startling truth came to light. It was noticed that problems often arose when Letby worked night shifts. Out of the sight of colleagues, she was able to strike undisturbed. If, in rare cases, something went wrong during the day, the woman was also at work.
“Only constant factor was her presence”
“The rate at which the babies were in life-threatening condition was not normal,” prosecutor Nick Johnson said. “And it is striking: when there was recovery, it also happened at breakneck speed. The only constant was Letby’s malevolent presence.”
The woman was targeting twins, among other things. It was fatal for one boy, his sister survived the assassination attempt barely 28 hours later. In total, five boys and five girls would crawl through the eye of the needle.
It was also revealed on the first day of the trial that Letby had a marked interest in the victims’ families. For example, she looked up the family members in question via Facebook. The police also found the medical documents of the patients in her house.
Letby is charged with 22 charges, but pleads innocent across the board. The process is estimated to take six months.
Free unlimited access to Showbytes? Which can!
Log in or create an account and don’t miss out on any of the stars.