Families search for answers as Angel of Death nurse killed 7 babies - updates

'There are four or five babies who could be going to school now who aren't'

Consultants who raised concerns about Lucy Letby say several babies could have been saved if hospital management had acted sooner.

Dr Stephen Brearey first discussed the issue in June 2015 and Dr Ravi Jayaram expressed concerns to management when more sudden and unexpected collapses followed. Police were only contacted in 2017.

Dr Jayaram told ITV News: "It's a horrible thing to say but I do genuinely believe there are four or five babies who could be going to school now who aren't."

Countess of Chester Hospital's former chief executive will 'fully co-operate' with inquiry

The former chief executive of Lucy Letby’s hospital says he will co-operate fully with an independent inquiry into the case.

Tony Chambers was chief executive during the killer nurse’s tenure at the hospital, serving six years in his post before he resigned in September 2018. In a statement following the verdicts, Mr Chambers said: "As chief executive, my focus was on the safety of the baby unit and the wellbeing of patients and staff. I was open and inclusive as I responded to information and guidance.

"I will co-operate fully and openly with the independent inquiry which has now been ordered by the Government.”

What is an "Angel of Death"?

As horrible as it sounds, when someone like Lucy Letby carries out murders they can be referred to as "an angel of death" or even "an angel of mercy" – despite these convicted killers being far from angelic.

That's because in criminology, the term "Angel of Death" refers to a certain type of killer, one who carries out murders on defenceless subjects under their care.

Other famous angels of death include Beverly Allitt – who killed four children under her care while she was working as a nurse at Grantham and District Hospital in 1991 – and Donald Harvey, who claims to have murdered as many as 87 people while working as a hospital orderly in Ohio.

Letby's mother told police to 'take her instead' when her daughter was arrested

Lucy Letby's mum screamed "I did it, take me instead" as her evil daughter was arrested, it has been claimed.

Disabled woman paralysed after falling from wheelchair on plane walkway dies

Parents John, 77, and Susan, 63, were a constant presence during her trial and attended every day, relocating to Manchester from Hereford.

A source told the Daily Mail Letby's mum was distraught when she was arrested – wailing, crying and even telling police: "I did it, take me instead," in a desperate bid to protect her.

Read more here

Chester MP calls for 'full, independent and public inquiry' into case

City of Chester MP Samantha Dixon has joined calls for a "full, independent and public inquiry" into the Letby case.

Writing on Twitter, she said in a statement: "The families who have endured this unimaginable suffering deserve to know exactly what happened, and those who use our NHS services need the reassurance that it can never happen again. Too many people now live with the consequences of the catastrophic harm caused by Letby. An attempt on a child’s life is one of the most depraved acts a person can commit, and the death of a child is the hardest burden to bear.

“To know such actions were caused deliberately is truly terrible. For the families at the heart of this, i feel intense sadness and stand behind them in their grief and sorrow. Following today’s verdict, the time is right to seek the reassurances no one could ever again perpetuate crimes as hideous as these.”

'This is not the end of our search for answers'

Today’s verdict is “not the end of the search for answers” according to the head of Slater and Gordon's Cardiff clinical negligence department has claimed.

Yvonne Agnew said: “While today marks the conclusion of this trial, it is not the end of our search for answers and our fight for justice for our clients.

"For more than eight months, we've had to hear some of the most harrowing details about what happened to our clients' children, something no parent should ever have to experience. Becoming a parent is a particularly vulnerable time in anyone's life. If your child needs special care, in that moment of helplessness you put your utmost trust in medical professionals to do their best for you in what many people will tell you is the safest possible place - a hospital.

"We are determined lessons are learnt by the Countess of Chester Hospital, the NHS and the wider medical profession so no babies or parents are put in harm's way like this again."

Hospital's medical director says 'significant changes' have been made since Letby left

Dr Nigel Scawn, medical director at the Countess of Chester, has moved to reassure patients currently at the hospital.

He said: "We would like to extend our thanks to Cheshire Police for their extensive investigation and the work they did to bring this case to trial. We would also like to thank them for the comprehensive support that they have provided to all the families involved.

"Since Lucy Letby worked at our hospital, we have made significant changes to our services and I want to provide reassurance to every patient that may access our services they can have confidence in the care they will receive.

"Finally, and most importantly, our thoughts are with all the families and loved ones at this very difficult time."

'Letby committed appalling crimes'

Dame Ruth May, chief nursing officer for England, said: “Lucy Letby committed appalling crimes that were a terrible betrayal of the trust placed in her and our thoughts are with the families affected, who have experienced pain and suffering that few of us can imagine.

“Colleagues within the nursing profession and across the health service have been shocked and sickened to learn what she did, actions beyond belief to the nurses and staff working so hard to save lives and care for patients.

“On behalf of all of us, I would like to express our profound apologies to the families for all they have been through.

“The NHS is fully committed to doing everything we can to prevent anything like this ever happening again and we welcome the independent inquiry announced by the Department of Health and Social Care to help ensure we learn every possible lesson from this awful case.”

Calls for changes to be made

The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman has called for "significant improvements to culture and leadership across the NHS" in the wake of the Lucy Letby trial.

Rob Behrens said: "We know that, in general, people work in the health service because they want to help and that when things go wrong it is not intentional.

"At the same time, and too often, we see the commitment to public safety in the NHS undone by a defensive leadership culture across the NHS.

"The Lucy Letby story is different and almost without parallel, because it reveals an intent to harm by one individual. As such, it is one of the darkest crimes ever committed in our health service. Our first thoughts are with the families of the children who died.

"However, we also heard throughout the trial evidence from clinicians that they repeatedly raised concerns and called for action. It seems that nobody listened and nothing happened.

"More babies were harmed and more babies were killed. Those who lost their children deserve to know whether Letby could have been stopped and how it was that doctors were not listened to, and their concerns not addressed, for so long."

Mr Behrens said that "patients and staff alike deserve an NHS that values accountability, transparency and a willingness to learn".

He added: "Good leadership always listens, especially when it's about patient safety. Poor leadership makes it difficult for people to raise concerns when things go wrong, even though complaints are vital for patient safety and to stop mistakes being repeated.

"We need to see significant improvements to culture and leadership across the NHS so that the voices of staff and patients can be heard, both with regard to everyday pressures and mistakes, and, very exceptionally, when there are warnings of real evil."

Criminology expert's view of Lucy Letby

A criminology expert has shed some light on what he believes to be the motive behind her wicked actions.

Dr Dominic Willmott, a senior lecturer in criminology at Loughborough University, said the former nurse’s text messages showed she wanted to “garner sympathy” from colleagues after the children’s deaths. The expert told how there were “clear similarities” with Letby and historic cases of killer nurses, such as Beverley Allitt from the UK and Charles Cullen in the US.

Allitt, 54, targeted 13 victims during a 59-day spree that saw her kill four babies and poison nine others at Grantham and Kesteven Hospital, Lincolnshire, in 1991. Doctors believe she suffered from Munchausen syndrome by proxy while carrying out the attacks, in which a caregiver may harm someone in their care to get attention.

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Families of victims thank the jurors

Families of victims in the Lucy Letby trial have said they will “forever be grateful” to jurors who had to sit through 145 days of “gruelling” evidence.

In a joint statement read outside court, they also thanked the team of family liaison officers, the investigation and prosecution teams. They also expressed their gratitude to medical experts, consultants, doctors and nursing staff who came to give evidence during the trial, which they described as “extremely harrowing and distressing” at times to listen to.

“The search for the truth has remained at the forefront of everyone’s minds and we will forever be grateful for this,” they said. “We would now ask for time in peace to process what has happened as we come to terms with today’s verdict.”

Moment Lucy Letby put in police car (Cheshire Police)

'Long, torturous and emotional journey'

Families have said in a joint statement that they have been through a “long, torturous and emotional journey”.

They said: “Words cannot effectively explain how we are feeling at this moment in time. We are quite simply stunned.

“To lose a baby is a heartbreaking experience that no parent should ever have to go through, but to lose a baby or to have a baby harmed in these particular circumstances is unimaginable. Over the past seven to eight years we have had to go through a long, torturous and emotional journey.

“From losing our precious newborns and grieving their loss, seeing our children who survived, some of whom are still suffering today, to being told years later that their death or collapse might be suspicious, nothing can prepare you for that news.”

'All the babies forever in our hearts'

In a statement read outside court, Detective Chief Inspector Nicola Evans, of Cheshire Constabulary, said: “All of their babies will forever be in our hearts. I would like to thank all of the families in this case for their exceptional resilience and strength throughout this entire investigation, their composure and their dignity during this trial have been truly overwhelming.

“The investigation into the circumstances surrounding this case started in May 2017, and since that time hundreds of witnesses have been spoken to by a team of dedicated detectives. Many of those witnesses have returned to court on numerous occasions to give evidence, without their honesty and their support the families would not have received the justice that they have received today.

“I cannot begin to imagine how the families in this case feel today, I just hope that today’s verdicts bring all of them some peace of mind for the future, and that we have answered some of the questions that they were looking for.

“Cheshire Constabulary will continue to support all of the families in this case in the coming days and weeks ahead, there will be a period of reflection as everybody comes to terms with what they’ve experienced here today.”

'We are heartbroken, devastated, angry'

Families of victims in the Lucy Letby case have expressed their “extreme hurt, anger and distress”.

Janet Moore, family liaison co-ordinator at Cheshire Constabulary, read out a joint statement on behalf of the families which said: “Today justice has been served and the nurse who should have been caring for our babies has been found guilty of harming them.

“But this justice will not take away from the extreme hurt, anger and distress that we have all had to experience. Some families did not receive the verdict that they expected and therefore it is a bittersweet result.

“We are heartbroken, devastated, angry and feel numb. We may never truly know why this happened.”

Cops launch new investigation into nurse's 5-year NHS career

Police investigating Lucy Letby's crimes against defenceless babies have already launched an entirely new investigation into her five-year medical career, it has been reported.

The 33-year-old Angel of Death was working at the neonatal unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital where she methodically harmed the infants in her care. At Manchester Crown Court today (Friday, August 18) a jury found her guilty of sevencounts of murder and sixcounts of attempted murder.

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Family of victims say conviction will no take away from 'extreme hurt'

The conviction of Lucy Letby will not take away the “extreme hurt, anger and distress” the families of the victims have suffered, they said in a joint statement.

Moment Lucy Letby was arrested

Heartless words Letby uttered as she was arrested

Footage released by police after her convictions shows body cam footage of officers from Cheshire Constabulary arresting Lucy Letby on suspicion of murder on July 3, 2018. She can be seen in a blue tracksuit being led wordlessly out of her home before an officer attempts to place her in the back of an unmarked car.

The officer tells a handcuffed Letby as she attempts to place her in the vehicle: "I'm just going to put you in the back seat over here. Just take a seat in there for me, Lucy. I'll move that seat forward a bit for you."

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Relatives of one infants storm out of court

Three female jurors wiped away tears as trial judge Mr Justice Goss thanked them from their service.

After the jury confirmed they were unable to reach verdicts in relation to four babies, the relatives of one of the infants stormed out of court.

'Highly complex and extremely sensitive investigation lasting six years'

After the verdicts were delivered, senior investigating officer, Detective Superintendent Paul Hughes, said: “This has been a highly complex and extremely sensitive investigation over the past six years. We had to go right back to the start, keeping an open mind and being careful not to draw any conclusions.

“The last thing we expected to find was a suspect responsible for these deaths and non-fatal collapses. It was a long, drawn-out process but no stone was left unturned. We had to do it right – not rush it. This has been an investigation like no other – in scope, complexity and magnitude.

“We had to deal with this as 17 separate investigations – we are normally used to dealing with one murder or attempted murder investigation at a time let alone something on this scale.

“What started out as a team of eight quickly increased and, at the height of the investigation, featured almost 70 officers and civilian staff working together – in a bid to unearth the answers that the families so desperately deserved.

Lucy Letby in court in May (PA)

“Turning up at the home of a family who has lost a baby, grieved for their loss and is trying to move on from that is difficult enough, but having to tell them that someone who was meant to be caring for their little one could ultimately be responsible for their death – is not an easy task.

“I want to say thank you to the whole investigation team in recognition of all of their dedication and hard work – without you we wouldn’t be in this position today.”

Hosptial boss says he's 'truly sorry'

Tony Chambers, former chief executive of the Countess of Chester Hospital, said he is “truly sorry” for what the families have gone through.

In a statement read out on BBC News, Mr Chambers said: “All my thoughts are with the children at the heart of this case and their families and loved ones at this incredibly difficult time. I am truly sorry for what all the families have gone through.

“The crimes that have been committed are appalling and I am deeply saddened by what has come to light.”

The BBC also reported that Mr Chambers said he would “co-operate fully and openly” with any post-trial inquiry.

Calls for public inquiry into Lucy Letby case

City of Chester MP Samantha Dixon has called for a public inquiry into the Lucy Letby case.

In a statement, she said: “The families that have endured this unimaginable suffering deserve to know exactly what happened, and those who use our NHS services need the reassurance that it can never happen again. That’s why, today, I have written to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, asking for a full, independent and public inquiry into this case.

“Too many people now live with the consequences of the catastrophic harm caused by Letby.

“An attempt on a child’s life is one of the most depraved acts a person can commit. And the death of a child is the hardest burden to bear. To know such actions were caused deliberately is truly terrible. For the families at the heart of this, I feel intense sadness and stand beside them in their grief and sorrow.

“I pay tribute to Cheshire Police who have investigated this highly complex case over the past six years. I know they have supported the families and those who have given evidence, throughout.

“Following today’s verdict, the time is right to seek the reassurance that no one could ever again perpetrate crimes as hideous as these. The families whose children were killed and harmed, the community I represent and families across the country need to know their children are protected and safe.

“The Government should now institute a full, independent and public inquiry into the circumstances in which these crimes were perpetrated.”

Read more here

Key dates in Lucy Letby investigation 

June 22, 2015: Child D, a full-term baby girl, dies 36 hours after her birth at the Countess of Chester Hospital. It is the third infant death in a fortnight - equalling the total number of deaths on the neonatal unit for the whole of 2014.

End of June/July: A meeting takes place between neonatal lead consultant Dr Stephen Brearey and director of nursing Alison Kelly, along with other bosses, to discuss an informal review undertaken by Dr Brearey of Child D's death. His findings reveal an "association" with nurse Lucy Letby and her presence at the recent collapses.

August 5: Blood sugar levels of a premature-born baby boy, Child F, fall dangerously low and a blood sample is sent for tests at the Royal Liverpool Hospital. A day earlier the boy's twin brother, Child E, died following an unexpected collapse.

August 13: The blood test result for Child F reveals an abnormally high level of insulin which indicates it was not naturally produced.

October 23: Child I, a premature-born girl, dies on the unit. Concerns are raised again by some consultants in an email.

February 8, 2016: A "thematic" review from an independent neonatologist based at Liverpool Women's Hospital takes place. The review, requested by Dr Brearey, does not find a reason for the increased number of deaths and collapses but concerns remain over Letby as the report is forwarded to nursing director Ms Kelly and medical director Ian Harvey.

April 9: Another youngster, Child L, suffers a hypoglycaemic episode in which his blood sugars plunge. At around the same time his twin brother, Child M, unexpectedly collapses and requires full resuscitation before he recovers. A blood sample from Child L is sent for tests at the Royal Liverpool Hospital.

April 16: The blood test result for Child L shows a very high level of insulin which again indicates it was not produced naturally.

June 24: Child P, one of a set of triplet boys, collapses and dies a day after the death in the unit of his newborn brother, Child O. Dr Brearey phones duty executive on call, Karen Rees, a senior nurse in the urgent care division, to say he and his consultant colleagues do not want Letby to work her next scheduled shift on June 25 but she rejects the plea.

June 25: Ninety minutes into Letby's day shift, Child Q, a premature-born boy, needs breathing support after his blood oxygen levels and heart rate plummet. He goes on to make a full recovery.

June 29: Consultants meet to discuss recent "inexplicable" events and then urge hospital bosses to remove Letby from the unit as a safety measure.

June 30: Letby works her last nursing shift on the neonatal unit.

July 7: Hospital bosses reduce the neonatal unit service by cutting cot space numbers and increasing the gestational age limit for admission from a minimum of 27 to 32 weeks.

July 15: An email is sent to all nursing staff informing them they will each undergo a period of clinical supervision - after medical director Mr Harvey had asked the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) to conduct a review of the unit's service. The email states: "Lucy has agreed to undergo this supervision first on Monday 18th July."

July 19: Letby starts an administrative post in the hospital's Patient Experience Team.

August 9: Another group email to neonatal staff informs them that job secondment opportunities are available and states Letby is spending three months in the Risk and Patient Safety Office.

September 7: Letby registers a formal grievance procedure against her employer. Around this time the Royal College of Nursing union informs her by letter about allegations surrounding her involvement with a number of deaths.

November 2016: The RCPCH says it found no obvious factors linking a total of eight deaths in the neonatal unit in 2015 and five deaths up to July 2016. However it did uncover significant gaps in medical and nursing rotas, and insufficient staffing for the provision of longer term high dependency and some intensive care.

May 18, 2017: Cheshire Police announce they have launched an investigation following "a greater number of baby deaths and collapses" at the hospital between June 2015 and June 2016. The probe will focus on eight deaths and will also review seven further deaths and six non-fatal collapses.

July 3 2018: Letby is arrested at her home in Westbourne Road, Chester, at 6am and officers search the three-bedroom property. Searches also take place at her parents' home in Hereford and at her place of work in the hospital's Risk and Patient Safety Office. Police say the investigation has widened to 17 deaths and 15 non-fatal collapses between March 2015 and July 2016.

June 10, 2019: Letby is re-arrested at her parents' home.

November 10, 2020: Letby is arrested again before she is charged and appears in court for the first time two days later.

October 4, 2022: Letby goes on trial at Manchester Crown Court accused of the murders of seven babies and the attempted murders of 10 others.

Letby's mum wails in court as verdicts came in

Lucy Letby's mum was heard wailing in court as her baby-killer daughter was found guilty of the first murder charges brought against her, The Mirror can now reveal.

The 33-year-old was working at the neonatal unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital where she was accused of harming the infants. Today, it can be reported that a jury has found her guilty of seven counts of murder and six counts of attempted murder. The jury spent 22 days and more than 94 hours deliberating the string of charges levelled against the nurse. She was also found not guilty on two further attempted murder charges.

The jury of seven women and four men - one juror was discharged earlier this month – delivered their verdicts over a series of days at Manchester crown court. But the judge had ordered nothing could be reported until decisions had been made on all 22 charges she faced.

After each verdict was returned in the hushed courtroom, the parents of the babies she murdered and attacked wept and hugged each other in the public gallery. Letby had sobbed in the dock when she was found guilty of two attempted murders on August 8.

Read more here

'Utterly horrifying case'

Jonathan Storer, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS Mersey-Cheshire, said: “This is an utterly horrifying case. Like everyone who followed the trial, I have been appalled by Letby’s callous crimes.

“To the families of the victims – I hope your unimaginable suffering is eased in some way by the verdicts. Our thoughts remain with you.

“Our prosecution team and police investigators have my respect and gratitude. These convictions could not have happened without their dedication to securing justice.”

'A complete betrayal'

Crown Prosecutor Pascale Jones said of Lucy Letby: “Parents were exposed to her morbid curiosity and her fake compassion.

“Too many of them returned home to empty baby rooms. Many surviving children live with permanent consequences of her assaults upon their lives. Her attacks were a complete betrayal of the trust placed in her.

“My thoughts are with families of the victims who may never have closure, but who now have answers to questions which had troubled them for years.”

'Lucy Letby was in position of trust'

CPS reviewing lawyer Pascale Jones said: “Lucy Letby was entrusted to protect some of the most vulnerable babies. Little did those working alongside her know that there was a murderer in their midst.

“She did her utmost to conceal her crimes, by varying the ways in which she repeatedly harmed babies in her care.

“She sought to deceive her colleagues and pass off the harm she caused as nothing more than a worsening of each baby’s existing vulnerability.

“In her hands, innocuous substances like air, milk, fluids – or medication like insulin – would become lethal. She perverted her learning and weaponised her craft to inflict harm, grief and death.

“Time and again, she harmed babies, in an environment which should have been safe for them and their families.”

Jury excused from service for the rest of their lives

Nicholas Johnson KC, prosecuting, asked the court for 28 days to consider whether a retrial would be sought for the remaining six counts of attempted murder.

Judge Mr Justice Goss thanked the jury for their “obvious care, diligence and sense of responsibility” and told them they were excused from further jury service for the rest of their lives.

Chilling 5 words Letby told worried mum

Lucy Letby told one worried mum “Trust me, I’m a nurse”. But she was a serial killer “playing God” on a neonatal ward, attacking defenceless premature babies.

Prosecutors described her as “cold, calculating, cruel and relentless” and “a poisoner at work”. They accused her of injecting air and insulin into the bodies of the tiny infants and over-feeding their delicate stomachs with milk. . On Friday, August 18, Letby was convicted of murdering seven helpless babies in her care, and trying to kill six more. She was also found not guilty on two further attempted murder charges.

Her year-long murder spree started in June 2015. She struck most often on night shifts, hovering alone on the ward over sleeping babies. She faced a total of 22 charges, accused of murdering seven babies and trying to kill ten more at the Countess of Chester Hospital.

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Lucy Letby's mug shot

This is the face of the nurse who was today found guilty of murdering seven babies.

Lucy Letby's mugshot (Cheshire Constabulary/AFP via Ge)