18 August 2023 , 20:08
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A forensic psychologist says there are strong similarities between the cases of killer nurses Lucy Letby and Beverley Allitt.
Allitt, 54, was jailed for life 30 years ago after murdering four children at Grantham Hospital, Lincs, in 1991. She has since been held in Rampton Secure Hospital in Nottingham.
Professor Mike Berry, of Liverpool’s John Moores University, said: “Both nurses worked with babies, although Allitt did also kill an 11 year old boy. Neither woman was involved in a meaningful, emotionally satisfying relationship at the time, and both were seeking attention. Both denied their responsibility for the deaths and may never do so.
“Like Allitt, Letby stole hospital notes relating to her victims and they both showed an over-attachment to the babies, as shown by post death behaviour towards the parents. And in both cases the killings often happened at night or over the weekend.”
Beverley Allitt, known as the angel of death, killed four children (PA)
The psychologist suggested Letby killed to get attention (MEN MEDIA)Prof Berry said in both killers there are suggestions of the illness Munchausen by proxy - in which a carer may harm a person in their care to get attention. He continued: “Why did they do it? Possibly it is to be the centre of attention or to attract the attention of a particular person. But it may be that they are playing the role of an ‘Angel of Death’, exerting a ’god-like’ power and control over life.
Baby boy has spent his life in hospital as doctors are 'scared' to discharge him
“They had power and control over highly vulnerable individuals, babies, who cannot verbally complain. “Or maybe it was for the pure hell of it, for the ‘fun’ of it. With Letby there does not appear to be any of the usual motives for murder. There are no sexual, financial, revenge, religious, political or racial reasons and there was no impulsive anger which could not be controlled.”
He said there is no obvious evidence Letby suffers from mental illness but it is possible she could be classified as having Borderline Personality Disorder, symptoms of which include emotional instability, disturbed patterns of thinking or perception, impulsive behaviour and intense but unstable relationships with others.
“Did her drawings and statements found in her home indicate her awareness of her guilt or just fantasising?” he said.
In 1995 Prof Berry attended the trial of Rose West, who was found guilty of murdering ten people, including her own daughter Heather, 16. He said: “One remarkable aspect was Rosemary West was almost like a statue in the dock during the prosecution’s presentation, hardly moving and with no obvious expression of emotions.
“It was a phenomenon I observed when attending Lucy Letby’s trial for a morning session where she hardly moved, while people all around her appeared to be constantly moving during the long and detailed barrister’s speech. “She showed no obvious observable emotions during the barrister’s presentation of material relating to his interpretation of her behaviour.”
Prof Berry added: “Most babies are killed by a parent or family member or the mother’s boyfriend who is often not the biological father. It is rare for babies to be the victims of a serial killer. Allitt is one example and of course Ian Brady and Myra Hindley killed young children. The killing of babies by nurses is rare worldwide and certainly extremely rare in the UK. One of the major problems is that understandably her colleagues took a long time to recognise the reality of the killings because nurses don’t kill babies.
“So expectant parents should not fear going into a maternity ward or having a baby placed in the intensive care unit on a neonatal ward if the baby requires extra attention or help. Sadly many parents, grandparents and siblings plus family friends have suffered because of Lucy Letby’s actions. It will take years for them to recover, if they ever do."