Lucy Letby
Lucy Letby | |
|---|---|
| Born | 4 January 1990 |
| Alma mater | University of Chester |
| Occupation | Registered nurse (suspended)[1] |
| Known for | Murdering babies at the Countess of Chester Hospital |
| Conviction(s) | Murder (15 counts) Attempted murder (6 counts) |
| Details | |
| Victims | 13 |
Span of crimes | 2015–2016 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
Lucy Letby (born January 4, 1990) is a British serial killer. She was arrested in July 2018 following a series of baby deaths, which occurred between June 2015 and June 2016 at the Countess of Chester Hospital when she was a nurse there. In August 2023, Letby was found guilty of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder six others. She was sentenced to a whole life order on August 21. She received 15 whole life orders, one for each charge.
Life
[change | change source]Letby was born in Hereford, England, on January 4, 1990. She learnt at multiple schools in the city, including at Hereford Sixth Form College. She pursued her education in nursing at the University of Chester, where she also worked as a student nurse during her three years of training, carrying out placements at Liverpool Women's Hospital and the Countess of Chester Hospital. She was the first member of her family to study at university, and graduated in September 2011.[2][3]
Post-trial denialism
[change | change source]Aggression from conspiracy theorists
[change | change source]Many conspiracy theorists have refused to accept Letby's guilt, and threatened expert witnesses like Dewi Evans.[4][5] Speaking to the BBC about this, he described it as being similar to intimidation received by doctors from supporters of outed abusers in the 1980s and 1990s.[4] He argued that some found it hard accepting that a killer could be a "young, white, English nurse from a respectable background":[4]
| “ | She superficially appeared as a fairly normal person, and this is essential for anyone who commits a crime hiding in plain sight. It happened with Harold Shipman, it happened with Jimmy Savile, it is crucial to their getting away with it that they appear normal. | ” |
Impact on victims' families
[change | change source]A barrister for the infants' families has described the doubts about the convictions as "conspiracies, some of which are grossly offensive and distressing for the families of her victims". The families' barristers called for the Thirlwall Inquiry to be publicly livestreamed, arguing:
| “ | The doubts are often ill-informed, and they ultimately grow in the shadows. The more light that we put on this Inquiry, the less space there is for speculation and conspiracy. | ” |
However, the inquiry was unconvinced of the need to livestream and rejected the application.[6]
Ignorance of jury observations
[change | change source]BBC special correspondent Judith Moritz, one of only four reporters allowed in the courtroom, told The Sunday Times that the debate over the conviction is missing key aspects the jury saw during the trial. Moritz said that she was troubled by Letby's behaviour and lack of emotion about the deaths of the infants, but was "tearful" when discussing herself, the loss of her job, and the correspondence with the married doctor. Letby did sob in court when recounting the death of an infant.[7]
Moritz also said that Letby contradicted herself and tried to "out-lawyer" the prosecutor.[8] Observers in the courtroom during her original trial said that Letby was "aloof and indifferent" and claimed she had no recollection of the incidents, contributing to the appearance of her guilt.[9][8]
References
[change | change source]- ↑ "Interim Order Review Meeting" (PDF). Nursing and Midwifery Council Investigating Committee. 13 March 2023. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 August 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
- ↑ Hirst, Lauren (18 August 2023). Who is baby serial killer Lucy Letby?. BBC News. BBC. Archived from the original on 18 August 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- ↑ "The quiet cul-de-sac in Hereford where killer nurse Lucy Letby grew up". ITV News. ITV. 18 August 2023. Archived from the original on 18 August 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- 1 2 3 Gourlay, Andy; Grey, Jack (8 July 2024). "Support for Letby surprising, says lead witness". BBC News. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
- ↑ "Doctor who helped convict Lucy Letby reveals attacks from people convinced killer nurse is innocent". The Independent. 8 July 2024. Archived from the original on 9 July 2024. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
In this case, Letby is a young, white, English nurse from a reputable, normal background. So it's not surprising that some people respond to the fact that she has been found guilty of killing babies by saying it hasn't happened. It becomes about shooting the messenger — which, in this case, is me.
- ↑ Moritz, Judith; Coffey, Jonathan (4 July 2024). "Lucy Letby: Courtroom drama, a failed appeal, and battles over the truth". BBC News. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
- ↑ Halliday, Josh (5 May 2023). "Lucy Letby sobs in court as she recalls 'traumatic' death of baby at her hospital". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
- 1 2 Ward, Audrey (19 October 2024). "Does the Lucy Letby case stack up? We covered it and can't agree". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
- ↑ Coffey, Jonathan; Moritz, Judith (19 October 2024). "Lucy Letby: We spent years covering the case – here's why experts are still arguing about it". BBC News. Archived from the original on 16 November 2024. Retrieved 20 October 2024.