A senior doctor has testified that British nurse Lucy Letby likely murdered or assaulted more infants than she was convicted of, shedding new light on the extent of her crimes.
Letby, 34, was found guilty of killing seven babies and attempting to kill six others during her time as a neonatal nurse at Chester Hospital in Cheshire, England, between June 2015 and June 2016.
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Doctor’s Testimony Suggests More Victims
Dr. Stephen Brearey, a consultant pediatrician, told a public inquiry into Letby’s actions that, in hindsight, it is likely she began harming babies even before June 2015, the date at which her actions came under scrutiny.
Brearey explained that the abnormal pattern of infant collapses in the neonatal unit had shifted over time, suggesting Letby’s harmful behavior may have started earlier than initially suspected.
“I think it’s likely that her actions prior to then [June 2015] over a period of time changed what we perceived to be abnormal,” Brearey said during the inquiry, as reported by the BBC.
His statement suggests that, had suspicions been raised sooner, earlier deaths could have been linked to her actions.
The Convictions and Charges
Letby was convicted of murdering seven infants by administering excess milk, air, insulin, or fluid, and attempting to murder six others during her time at the Countess of Chester Hospital.
Her crimes made her one of the most notorious child killers in UK history. She was sentenced to life in prison following her trial.
Allegations and Suspicions Raised During Her Tenure
During the public inquiry, Brearey recounted how staff had not initially suspected Letby before June 2015. However, following a series of unexplained incidents, a shift in perception occurred.
Brearey noted that the hospital staff’s understanding of what constituted normal neonatal events changed over time as more unexplained deaths occurred.
This shift led to the eventual investigation into Letby’s behavior, which was flagged after several disturbing incidents, including one where Letby was reportedly observed standing over an infant whose breathing tube was dislodged, watching the baby’s oxygen levels drop without intervening.
The child died three days later, and Dr. Ravi Jayaram, a senior doctor, testified that he became suspicious of Letby’s involvement.
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The Investigation and Trial
The Cheshire Constabulary began an investigation in May 2017, after Letby’s suspicious actions were brought to light.
Despite her denials during the trial, where she claimed she “only ever did my best” for the babies, the jury found Letby guilty of multiple charges of murder and attempted murder.
Letby’s case remains one of the most chilling examples of medical malpractice in recent UK history, and the inquiry continues to explore the full extent of her actions during her time as a nurse.
The investigation is expected to uncover more about how Letby’s behavior went unnoticed for so long, and whether earlier intervention could have saved more lives.