The official investigations into the deaths of five infants allegedly killed by nurse Lucy Letby will commence today.
The inquests will focus on the incidents involving Baby C, Baby E, Baby I, Baby O, and Baby P, who tragically lost their lives at the Countess of Chester Hospital in 2015 and 2016 while Letby was working in the neonatal unit.
These developments follow the recent release of a documentary by Netflix, which includes previously unseen police footage.
Throughout much of the Netflix documentary, Letby, while in police custody, chooses to remain silent when questioned, displaying a lack of emotion. However, her demeanor changes notably when shown post-it notes and paper with comments she had written.
Letby explains, “I wrote those notes when I was overwhelmed. It was shortly after I was removed from the unit. I had a sense of guilt, fearing that I might have unintentionally harmed the babies. I was blaming myself, not for any specific action, but due to external pressures making me doubt my practice and abilities.”
The documentary captures a highly emotional moment at the beginning, showing Letby’s arrest by the police, during which she reassures her parents of her innocence.
Letby’s mother, Susan, expresses anguish as the police arrive at their home in Hereford for Letby’s second arrest. Despite her mother’s pleas, the police proceed to arrest Letby in her bedroom while she is in a dressing gown.
Following her arrest, Letby requests to see her cat before being handcuffed, a moment of brief respite amidst the unfolding events.
An earlier inquest regarding Baby A’s death in October 2016 resulted in a narrative conclusion due to the inability to determine the cause of the infant’s collapse and subsequent passing.
Concerns about Letby potentially causing harm to babies led to her removal from clinical duties in July 2016, although these concerns were not addressed during Baby A’s inquest.
It was not until May 2017 that Cheshire Constabulary was alerted by hospital authorities to investigate the spike in infant mortalities, prompting further scrutiny.
Letby, 36, hailing from Hereford, is currently serving 15 whole-life sentences at HMP Bronzefield after being found guilty of the murder of seven infants and the attempted murder of seven others, including two attempts on the same victim, over a one-year period.
The fatalities occurred at the Countess of Chester Hospital during Letby’s tenure in the neonatal unit.
HM Senior Coroner for Cheshire, Jacqueline Devonish, will officially initiate the inquests on Wednesday concerning the deaths of Baby C, Baby E, Baby I, Baby O, and Baby P.
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