Former neo-natal nurse Lucy Letby, already serving 14 whole-life prison terms after she was found guilty of killing seven infants and attempting to kill six others, was found guilty Tuesday of trying to kill an “extremely premature” baby just two hours old.
Letby, 34, was accused of tampering with a breathing tube used by the infant, known as Baby K in court documents, who was born 15 weeks premature, The Guardian reported. The tampering caused a “life-threatening” deterioration in Baby K’s health.
The newborn died three days later. Letby was charged with murder, but prosecutors changed the charge to attempted murder after they decided they didn’t have the evidence to prove murder.
The jury in Letby’s original trial in August 2023 could not reach a verdict on the attempted murder charge, as CrimeOnline previously reported. The jury found Letby not guilty on two attempted murder charges and could not come to a decision on four others. Prosecutors said in September they would retry the Baby K case.
The incidents all took place in 2015 and 2016. Letby pleaded not guilty and was denied an appeal in May.
The jury deliberated for three and a half hours before returning the guilty verdict, The Guardian said.
Baby K’s family said in a statement the were “heartbroken, devastated, angry, and feel numb” after the decision.
“Today, justice has been served and a nurse who should have been caring for our daughter has been found guilty of harming her, but this justice will not take away the extreme hurt, anger and distress that we have all had to experience,” the statement said.
A public inquiry is expected to begin in September to determine how Letby was kept on at the County of Chester hospital’s neo-natal ward despite concerns from several doctors over suspicious incidents.
