Former Nurse Lucy Letby Found Guilty of Attempting to Murder Premature Baby in Retrial

Former nurse Lucy Letby has been found guilty of trying to kill a premature baby girl in a retrial at Manchester Crown Court.

The 34-year-old, convicted of attempting to murder Baby K, had faced a previous trial where she was found guilty of the murders of seven babies and attempted murders of six others at the Countess of Chester Hospital‘s neo-natal unit between June 2015 and June 2016.

In a statement, Baby K’s family expressed relief at the verdict but highlighted the emotional toll they had endured through the legal process.

During the retrial, the court heard how Letby targeted Baby K by dislodging her breathing tube, leading to a life-threatening situation for the very premature infant.

The jury’s decision was met with emotional reactions from Baby K’s family as they sought closure on the traumatic events surrounding their child’s early life.

Det Ch Insp Nicola Evans commended the strength of Baby K’s parents for enduring the trials and reiterated the tremendous betrayal of trust exhibited by Letby.

Following the guilty verdict, the hospital trust’s medical director, Dr. Nigel Scawn, expressed regret over the horrific crimes and reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing patient safety.

Letby’s defense team had raised multiple arguments, including a failed appeal to quash the previous convictions and critical examination of jury irregularity.

The public inquiry, scheduled to commence at Liverpool Town Hall in September, will delve into the systemic failures that allowed Letby to perpetrate the crimes at the neo-natal unit.