Lucy Letby handed another life in prison order after retrial

Letby, 34, has been sentenced for attempting to murder a newborn infant, known only as Baby K, while she worked as a nurse at the neonatal ward of Countess of Chester Hospital between 2015 and 2016.

“A trained nurse tasked with looking after the most vulnerable babies used her craft and her skills to become a killer”

Nicola Wyn Williams

She was given a whole life in prison order, on top of the existing multiple whole life orders she had been given for the murder of seven babies and attempted murder of six others over the same period.

Sentencing judge Mr Justice Goss described Letby as “cold” and said she had not showed any remorse for what she did.

As a result of these sentences, Letby will never be released from prison.

This latest offence was sentenced separately due to the need for a retrial when the jury of Letby’s original trial in 2023 failed to reach a verdict.

A new jury, this week, found her guilty of the attempted murder of Baby K, who later died in hospital.

The mother of Baby K, known as such for legal reasons, spoke in court today about the impact of Letby’s actions.

“Dealing with the aftermath that has no end in sight, even writing this statement took months of gaining the courage to sit down and open that box again to all that pain and anger that you put to one side so that you can function to a somewhat normal level every day,” she said.

“In turn [this] causes guilt, that part of you wants to bury it away as it’s too hard and painful to process but she is also our daughter, our first born, she is part of our family and deserves a place in our headspace and daily lives.”

She added: “[Baby K] is not here, never will be, we will never have what would give us peace, closure, or a feeling of being complete family unit.

“However, you Lucy Letby, will never hurt another child or have the privilege and joy that children give.”

Nicola Wyn Williams, senior crown prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) Mersey Cheshire Complex Casework Unit, said Letby “devastated” the lives of the families involved.

“This has been an incredibly difficult, complex and disturbing case,” she said. “A trained nurse tasked with looking after the most vulnerable babies used her craft and her skills to become a killer.

“She stood by as the parents of the babies she had killed or tried to kill, grieved and pretended to try and comfort them, all along knowing she was the person responsible.”

She added that it was still unknown why Letby, who continues to deny her actions and unsuccessfully appealed the convictions earlier this year, committed the crimes.

Ms Williams added: “Two separate juries have now found her guilty and the sentence passed means she will never be released from prison.

“We know that is little comfort to the families, and our thoughts are with all of them again today,” she said.

Detective chief inspector Nicola Evans, of Cheshire Constabulary, added: “Baby K’s mum showed unbelievable strength and courage today as she read out her victim impact statement to a packed court room – and in front of Letby.

“It was truly heartbreaking to listen to and is a stark reminder of the pain and suffering that she has had to endure – along with her husband – over a very long period of time.”