Lucy Letby 'murdered two premature triplets' to get attention of doctor'

18 August 2023 , 19:36

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Lucy Letby murdered two premature triplets, it was claimed

Lucy Letby allegedly murdered two premature triplets in less than 24 hours to get the attention of a married doctor she had a “crush” on.

The doctor, who cannot be identified, was described by prosecutors as her “boyfriend”. But Letby insisted: “I loved him as a friend. I was not in love with him.” The jury heard she exchanged messages with him at work and at home and her nursing colleagues teased her about flirting with him.

Letby told one friend she had received a “strange message” from the doctor. Her colleague said: “Did you? Saying what? Go Commando (laughing face emoji).” Letby replied with four laughing face emojis but when questioned during her trial she denied knowing what “Go Commando” meant.

A court sketch of Letby answering questions from her barrister (PA)

When the doctor, who we are calling Dr A, arrived in court to give evidence from behind a screen, Letby became visibly upset and tried to leave the dock. Under cross-examination she claimed it was because she felt “unwell”.

But prosecutor Nick Johnson replied: “No, it’s because you didn’t like hearing your boyfriend giving evidence, did you?” In social media messages Letby told the medic he was a “man of many talents”. On her first day back at work after a holiday in Ibiza she wrote “boo” when he said he was not working on the unit. Later that day Child O collapsed and Letby called for Dr A’s help.

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Prosecutor Nick Johnson asked her:”Did you want to get his attention? Is that the reason you sabotaged Child O?”, which she denied. The following day Child P collapsed when Letby was on duty and Dr A again responded to the emergency crash call. Mr Johnson asked her: “Did you enjoy being in these crisis situations with Dr A. “Did it give you something to talk about and message about?” Letby said: “No, Dr A and I were friends.”

Letby being put into a police car on her arrest (Cheshire Police)

When another medic raised concerns after a baby fell ill, Letby sought reassurance from Dr A. He messaged her, saying: “No more doubt, it is not you, it is the babies.” He added: “You are one of a few nurses in the region (I’ve worked pretty much everywhere) that I would trust with my own children.”

When she was removed from the ward the pair continued to meet outside work, enjoying coffees and meals together, shopping trips and a day out to London, although they did not stay the night. She told the court their friendship “fizzled out” at the beginning of 2018 before she was arrested in July.

After her arrest police found a note in her home with the name of Dr A and the words: “My best friend. Love, I loved you and I think you knew that. I trusted you with everything.”

Paul Byrne