Before advising Lucy Letby: “You’re not having a good run,” nurses messaged her about the “oddness” of the deaths of the three children she is accused of murdering.
While employed in a neonatal unit between June 2015 and June 2016, the 32-year-old neonatal nurse is accused of killing seven newborn babies and trying to kill 10 more.
On June 7, 2015, two of the newborns, twins Baby A and Baby B, were delivered at the Countess of Chester Hospital in Cheshire within a minute of one another.
On June 8, Letby is alleged to have killed Baby A by putting air into his body. The nurse is also charged with trying to murder his identical twin sister the same way the night before.
In court today, it was revealed that Letby repeatedly searched for Baby A’s mother on Facebook only hours after the infant’s “sudden and unexpected” collapse.
At the same time, she was receiving consolation from coworkers. Letby told a nurse, “It was horrific. Just after the transfer, he passed away extremely abruptly and violently. not certain why. The coroner has been notified. They are looking at a clotting issue. Really sad.
The coworker replied, referring to the conclusion of her own shift earlier that day: “Oh God, he was doing pretty well when I left.”
Then Letby said, “Just collapsed quite abruptly.” Awful. On Monday, he had a great day, and I took over Monday night.
The coworker expressed regret that Letby was caring for him at the time and said, “I’m sorry that occurred.” You’re not currently having a good run.
I wasn’t meant to be there either, Letby retorted. But regrettably, these things happen.
The nurse said that the parents of Babies A and B had been “beside themselves” with worry that their little daughter would also pass away.
The hospital workers started talking about the “oddness” of Baby A’s death and the deaths of two other newborns that month, Baby C on June 6 and Baby D on June 22, by June 30, according to testimony given in court.
There’s something strange about that night with the others leaving quickly, one nurse said in a message to Letby. It’s odd that we lost three, and under various conditions.
Letby said, “I dunno…
Were they really that dissimilar?
The colleague said, “It’s (Baby A) I can’t get my mind around,” before making reference to the health problems of Baby C and Baby D.
The court also saw texts sent by Letby’s coworkers comforting her after Baby A died. One of the texts read: “Fortunately it doesn’t happen very frequently here, not that that’s any consolation at all.” You may find me at xxxx if you want to speak or do anything.
Before commencing her next planned shift on June 9, Letby wrote a message expressing concern about caring for the deceased baby’s surviving twin, Baby B.
When another nurse enquired, she said, “Hello, Lucy. Wishing you well.
Letby said, “I believe we all did the best we could under extremely trying and tragic circumstances. Have had little sleep. I don’t really want to visit my folks, but I have to.
I told [another nurse] that I can’t take care of [Child B] because I’m unsure of how I’ll feel when I meet the parents.
When we carried him to the morgue, Dad was sobbing and begging us not to take our kid away. Just heartbreaking, really.
“I’ve never had to do anything harder than this.” Have hopefully a better one tonight.
In response, the coworker said she would rather Letby look after the child so her parents “don’t have a whole different face.”
The same nurse complimented Letby for how she handled the situation at 6.38 p.m. the day after Baby A died.
She was informed by the nurse, “You did wonderful. I’m really happy for you.
Hope that doesn’t seem patronizing, she said.
You did well.
It’s certainly not patronizing, Letby retorted. I appreciate you stating that, and I’m grateful for your excellent support…
“I believe we all did the best we could under really trying and tragic circumstances,” one person said.
Then, Letby said to the colleague that he didn’t want to meet Baby A’s parents, adding, “Dad was on the floor weeping ‘Please don’t take our baby away’ when I carried him to the morgue.”
“I can’t fathom how difficult it must have been,” her more experienced colleague retorted.
It was the toughest thing I’ve ever had to do, Letby admits to the woman. Hopefully, tonight’s shift will be a better one. You were great, I hope you’re fine.
Just over an hour later, at 8 o’clock, Letby messaged her coworker once again to express how difficult it had been to get to the hospital for her shift and meet Baby A’s parents.
Remember that you’re not alone, her coworker told her.
We definitely have a terrific team, the colleague said later that evening. Although you’re all essential, I simply wish I could have given you the night off.
It’s the last time I do you a favor by switching shifts, Letby wrote in response, referring to the time she was on duty in the unit and filling in for a coworker. Ha ha!’
Yes, I did think that, her colleague said in response. However, I’m certain the females appreciated your presence.
In addition to texts concerning the nurses’ social life outside of the newborn unit, the many messages that were shown to the jury today contained texts about Letby’s job on the unit.
Letby said in one message after Baby A’s passing: “We all need answers.”
Later, she revealed to a coworker that she had been watching the television documentary An Hour To Save Your Life, which followed daily life in a newborn ward.
The lady explained: “Get enough in work” when she indicated she didn’t watch such programs.
However, Letby offered an explanation for her interest: “I simply find it intriguing to observe how our work is conveyed to the public.”
The same coworker informed Letby that Baby A’s parents had stolen a memory box regarding their kid at 11.09 p.m.
Letby responded, “Oh nice. I had hoped they would find solace.”
At 11.31 p.m., 20 minutes later, she was looking up the mother of the deceased infant on Facebook.
The mother of Baby A was overheard pleading, “Please don’t let my baby die,” according to prior testimony given in court. As they attempted to revive him, she pleaded, “Please don’t let my baby die.”
Meanwhile, the court heard that the father of the twins was in shock and had been “frozen like a statue.”
Their mother was dozing off when she and her husband learned that their son, who had been born second, had a problem.
The mother recalls watching a movie when a male staff member barged in, according to a statement handed to the jury at Manchester Crown Court. You must arrive right now, he added.
When the couple entered the newborn ward, they saw several physicians and nurses attempting valiantly to save her son’s life.
I recall seeing what I can only characterize as hundreds of people gathered around his cot, she said. Whether I wanted her to say a prayer, a nurse inquired if I was religious.
Dr. Rav Jayaram, a unit consultant, approached the parents and said that Baby A would be badly brain injured even if he could be brought back.
He said that in order to cease CPR, they would need my consent. I couldn’t bring myself to say “stop” because I was so angry. (My spouse) made the statement “You must… You are being mean. He’s no longer there “.
The mother said, “I could only force myself to nod.” The fact that I was never able to hold my kid while he was alive is one of the things that saddens me the most, she said.
For the next two hours, Baby A was kept in a “hot cot” incubator while preparations were made to transport him to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool for a postmortem.
Letby disputes all charges. The trial goes on.