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Lucy Letby trial: nurse was ‘stunned’ by Child A’s death

Speaking at her trial, the nurse said she was not supposed to be working on the night Child A died and his collapse and death was a ‘huge shock’
A court artist's sketch of a seated Lucy Letby wiping her eyes while taking the stand as the judge looks on

Speaking at her trial, the nurse said she was not supposed to be working on the night Child A died and his collapse and death was a ‘huge shock’

A court artist's sketch of a seated Lucy Letby wiping her eyes while taking the stand as the judge looks on
Lucy Letby giving evidence – court artist sketch by Elizabeth Cook Picture: Alamy

Nurse Lucy Letby told jurors she was ‘stunned’ at the collapse and death of Child A – the first baby she is accused of killing – as she took the stand for the second time in her murder trial.

Lucy Letby says Child A’s death was a ‘huge shock’

Ms Letby is on trial at Manchester Crown Court accused of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder ten others at the Countess of Chester Hospital.

The prosecution says she targeted the infants when they were being treated on the hospital’s neonatal unit on various dates between June 2015 and June 2016.

Defence barrister Ben Myers KC addressed the first allegation against her, that she murdered a prematurely born twin boy shortly after her night shift started on 8 June 2015.

Asked how she felt after the death of Child A, Letby said: ‘Stunned. It was a complete shock to all of us. I felt like we had walked through the doors into this awful situation. The first time I had met [Child A], the first time I had met his parents. It was a huge shock.’

Child A died within 90 minutes of Letby starting her shift, the court heard.

Ms Letby recalled that she assisted a colleague with giving fluids to Child A through an intravenous line.

Mr Myers said: ‘What was the first indication you had that anything might not be right?’

Ms Letby said: ‘I recognised [Child A] to be jittery when I did my observations. It’s an abnormal finding. That is not something you want a baby to be displaying.’

Child A's hands and feet were white

Mr Myers asked: ‘What happened next?’

Ms Letby said: ‘When I was carrying out my equipment checks around the bedside [Child A’s] monitor sounded. That’s when we noted his colour had changed and he was apneic.’

She said his hands and feet were white as attempts were made to assist his breathing.

Mr Myers asked: ‘Do you recall how you were feeling as the resuscitation unfolded?’

Ms Letby said: ‘I remember it was a huge, unexpected shock.’

Mr Myers said: ‘It is alleged, of course, that you did this – did you?’

Ms Letby said: ‘No.’

Accused nurse says she was not supposed to be working on the night Child A died

Mr Myers said: ‘What’s it like to have that allegation made?’

Ms Letby said: ‘It’s awful… I was not even supposed to be working that night. It was just a shock to walk into that situation.’

Asked if it had had a lasting impact, she replied: ‘You never forget something like that.’

The Crown alleges Ms Letby introduced air into the bloodstream of Child A via an intravenous line.

Ms Letby denies all charges. The trial continues.


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