RECAP: Lucy Letby branded 'coward' as killer nurse handed victim impact statements inside jail

Others back campaign to change law around criminals appearing for sentencings

Ayse Hussein, cousin of Jan Mustafa - who was murdered in east London - and who has also campaigned on the issue, said: "In our case it was a double murder, and knowing that the perpetrator was allowed to sit comfortably in his cell while the judge read out the impact statements was a stab in the back.

"The perpetrator should be in the dock facing the family and listening to what he has put us through and to see the pain and tears, because he has caused this by killing our loved ones, but because of the law he doesn't have to see or hear anything.

"This is wrong and has to change."

Justice Secretary Alex Chalk hints at law change after Letby's no-show

Earlier this year, Justice Secretary Alex Chalk said the Government was "committed" to changing the law so criminals could be compelled to attend sentencing, after the non-attendance of the killers of Olivia Pratt-Korbel, Zara Aleena and Sabina Nessa.

Today, he said the Government was looking to change the law "at the earliest opportunity".

He added: "Nothing could begin to undo the damage that Lucy Letby has done. Justice has been served, but it was an insult to the families of her victims that Letby failed to appear in the dock to hear her sentence handed down.

"She took the coward's approach, insulting her victims one last time by robbing their families of the chance to look her in the eye as the judge decided her fate.

"Cases like these make me even more determined to make sure the worst offenders attend court to face justice, when ordered by the judge.

"That's why we are looking at options to change the law at the earliest opportunity to ensure that in the silence that follows the clang of the prison gate, society's condemnation will be ringing in prisoners' ears."

Letby branded 'cowardly' for refusing to appear for sentencing

Rishi Sunak branded Letby "cowardly" for refusing to appear for sentencing.

The Prime Minister said the Government was looking at changing the law so criminals could be compelled to attend sentencing hearings. He was asked during a visit to a nursery in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, on Monday whether ministers were moving too slowly on making the change.

Mr Sunak told broadcasters: "The first thing is to extend my sympathies to everyone affected by this.

"I think, like everyone reading about this, it's just shocking and harrowing. Now, I think it's cowardly that people who commit such horrendous crimes do not face their victims and hear first-hand the impact that their crimes have had on them and their families and loved ones.

"We are looking, and have been, at changing the law to make sure that that happens and that's something that we'll bring forward in due course."

Letby will receive copies of victim impact statements after he refusal to appear in court

Lucy Letby will be sent copies of victim impact statements read out during her sentencing after refusing to appear in court.

The 33-year-old did not appear in the dock at Manchester Crown Court on Monday as she was given a whole-life order after being convicted of the murders of seven babies and the attempted murders of six more.

The judge, Mr Justice Goss, ordered that she be sent a transcript of his sentencing remarks and copies of the statements read out by the families of her victims.

He said: "The defendant, Lucy Letby, has refused to attend court for this sentence hearing. Accordingly, I have to sentence her in her absence.

"I shall deliver the sentencing remarks as if she was present to hear them. And I direct that she is provided with a transcript of my remarks and copies of the victim personal statements read to the court."

Letby becomes fourth female criminal in British history to have no hope of parole

Evil baby killer Lucy Letby is the fourth female criminal in British history to have no hope of parole behind bars.

The former NHS nurse was handed a whole life order on August 21 after she was found guilty of seven murders and six attempted murders of innocent infants under her care.

Letby deliberately harmed the innocent babies in various ways, including: injecting air intravenously and administering air and/or milk into the stomach via nasogastric tubes, adding insulin as a poison to intravenous feeds, interferring with breathing tubes and inflicting trauma in some cases.

The prolific serial killer joins a string of the country's most dangerous offenders who are set to die behind bars, including disgraced police officer Wayne Couzens and necrophiliac David Fuller.

For more - read this story.

Victim impact statements were read in court

The court heard harrowing victim impact statements from the families of Letby’s victims.

The mother of Child E, a premature-born boy who died, and Child F, his twin brother who survived, told the court the nurse’s refusal to appear was "just one final act of wickedness from a coward".

The nurse was found guilty of murdering Child C by forcing air down a feeding tube and into the baby boy’s stomach.

Lucy Letby to be locked at notorious prison where Baby P's mum and Rose West were jailed

Britain's most prolific child killer Lucy Letby will serve life behind bars with the country's most depraved murderers - but will first be held in segregation to stop her being attacked.

Read more here.

Olivia Pratt-Korbel's mum sends heartfelt message to families of Lucy Letby's victims

The mother of shooting victim Olivia Pratt-Korbel has said her heart goes out to the families of Lucy Letby's victims after the killer nurse did not appear in court for her sentencing.

Cheryl Korbel has been campaigning for a change in the law to force criminals to appear in court after Thomas Cashman, who shot Olivia, nine, after chasing a fellow drug dealer into her home in Dovecot, Liverpool, refused to come up to the dock when he was sentenced to a minimum of 42 years.

For more about this, follow the link.

Where will Letby be caged for life?

Britain's most prolific child killer Lucy Letby will serve life behind bars with the country's most depraved murderers - but will first be held in segregation to stop her being attacked.

The nurse, who went on a year-long killing spree at the Countess of Chester Hospital and was jailed for life today, will be in HMP Low Newton in Durham, which has also caged Baby P's mum and Rose West among other villains. It is next door to the so-called "Monster Mansion" HMP Frankland, which holds Ian Huntley, Wayne Couzens and Levi Belfield.

For more on this story, follow the link.

Lawyer firm representing some of Letby's victims' families speaks out

Tamlin Bolton, a senior associate solicitor at Switalskis, is a specialist medical negligence lawyer who is representing the families of seven babies who were victims of Lucy Letby.

She said: "For the families we represent, the judgment and sentencing of Lucy Letby for her crimes will be a vindication of what they already suspected, and a devastating confirmation of the reality of what's happened.

"The fact that Letby refused to attend her sentencing hearing is the final insult. By not facing the consequences of her actions, it speaks of her complete disregard for not only for the damage she’s caused, but also to our judicial system.

"These verdicts don’t deliver answers to the further questions people have about what happened at The Countess of Chester NHS Hospital Trust, and we’re looking to support our families, and others who may be affected by the ongoing investigation through the inquiry and through any private civil claims they wish to bring."

City of Chester MP Samantha Dixon reacts to the sentencing

MP Samantha Dixon, who represents Labour in the City of Chester, tweeted her reaction to the sentencing. She said "it is right the perpetrator will never see the light of day again". Her powerful message has been reposted by others on X, formely known as Twitter.

Nothing can repair the harm that has been done to them. But it is right the perpetrator will never see the light of day again.

Questions remain about the circumstances surrounding Letby’s crimes. The Government must now institute a full, statutory inquiry.

— Samantha Dixon MBE (@SamanthaDixonMP) August 21, 2023

See judge's remarks in detail

Sentencing, Mr Justice James Goss said: "The defendant, Lucy Letby, has refused to attend court for this sentence hearing. Accordingly, I have to sentence her in her absence. I shall deliver the sentencing remarks as if she was present to hear them and I direct that she is provided with a transcript of my remarks and copies of the victim personal statements read to the court.

"Lucy Letby, over a period of almost 13 months between June 2015 and June 2016, when in your mid-20s and employed as a neo-natal nurse at the Countess of Chester Hospital in Chester with specialist training in intensive care, you murdered seven babies and attempted to murder six others, in the case of one of them trying on separate occasions two weeks apart to murder her.

"You are now to be sentenced for your crimes. I order payment of the statutory surcharge in the appropriate amount.

"You acted in a way that was completely contrary to the normal human instincts of nurturing and caring for babies and in gross breach of the trust that all citizens place in those who work in the medical and caring professions. The babies you harmed were born prematurely and some were at risk of not surviving, but in each case you deliberately harmed them intending to kill them.

"In your evidence you said that 'hurting a baby is completely against everything that being a nurse is', as, indeed, it should be. You also claimed you never did anything that was meant to hurt a baby and only ever did your best to care for them. That was but one of the many lies you were found to have told in this case.

"There is no doubt that you are intelligent and, outwardly, were a very conscientious, hard working, knowledgeable, confident and professional nurse, which enabled you repeatedly to harm babies on the unit without arousing suspicion for some time. You prided yourself in your competence.

"There was pre-meditation, calculation and cunning in your actions. You specifically targeted twins and, latterly, triplets. Some babies were healthy, others had medical issues of which you were aware. The great majority of your victims suffered acute pain as a result of what you did to them. They all fought for survival; some, sadly, struggled in vain and died."

Cheshire Police says sentence reflects 'gravity of horrific crimes'

Following the sentencing, DCI Nicola Evans, of Cheshire Police, has said:

"The sentence reflects the true scale and gravity of her horrific crimes and ensures that a calculated and dangerous individual is behind bars for a very long time.

"Nothing will bring back the babies who died or take away the pain and suffering experienced by all of the families over the years but I hope that the significant sentence will bring some comfort at this dark time.

"The victim impact statements read out in court today on behalf of the parents are a chilling reminder of the pain and suffering that each family has had to endure over the years. Hearing their own experiences in their own words has been truly heartbreaking."

Victims' parents suspected deliberate harm before police probe

The mother of Child D told the court she was "knocking on doors" and "asking questions" after her baby girl died in June 2015 . She said: "We got a solicitor and I wanted the police involved. At that stage I was told this was not a criminal matter so the police was out of the question."

She said that a week before an inquest was due to be held, police called her to tell her someone was about to be arrested for the murder of Child D and others. She added: "Thank God the police started their investigation."

The mother of Child I told the court her husband was "convinced someone had done this" following the baby girl's death in October 2015. She said: "I would tell him 'don't be stupid, who would deliberately hurt our tiny daughter, it's the grief that makes you think that', but there was never a real explanation to why she died."

She said she remembered her "whole body shaking" when officers told the couple they were arresting someone on suspicion of murder. She continued: "We were both absolutely broken that someone could do something so evil to our precious little girl and this has had a massive effect on our family even until this day.

"We dug for years trying to get answers for what had happened and over the years we have been in some very dark places mentally." The mother of Child N, who survived after Letby tried to kill him, said she always knew her son had been deliberately harmed.

She said that she felt "happy and relieved" when the police got in contact to say they were investigating Letby because "we felt like we were being listened to". "Finally we would receive some answers," she said.

Letby will 'spend rest of life looking over her shoulder' as target in prison

Letby will spend the rest of her life looking over her shoulder, a prison expert has warned, adding that the killer nurse will be a huge target behind bars

The Prison Oracle website editor Mark Leech, an ex-offender who spent 14 years in 62 different jails, told The Daily Star that Letby's future was bleak. He said: "She'll be what's known as a 'restricted status' prisoner - the female equivalent of Category A.

"She'll be on suicide watch and it will be some time before she gets to mingle with the main prison population - at least six months. Her life for much of the next few years is going to be a lonely one. She'll associate mostly with prison officers, her key worker and one or two cleaners. But much of that interaction will be through the hatch in her cell door.

"She won't be able to do much other than read newspapers or books and watch TV. She'll get one hour of exercise by herself each day. She will be able to phone her family and receive visits from them, but the police will have to vet them first.''

Read more here.

Justice Secretary: 'Lucy Letby is not just a murderer but a coward'

Justice Secretary Alex Chalk said the Government wants to change the law to compel offenders to attend their sentencing hearings.

Writing on Twitter after Lucy Letby was sentenced to a whole-life order, Mr Chalk said: "Lucy Letby is not just a murderer but a coward, whose failure to face her victims' families, refusing to hear their impact statements and society's condemnation, is the final insult.

"We are looking to change the law so offenders can be compelled to attend sentencing hearings."

Lucy Letby is not just a murderer but a coward, whose failure to face her victims’ families – refusing to hear their impact statements and society’s condemnation - is the final insult.

We are looking to change the law so offenders can be compelled to attend sentencing hearings.

— Alex Chalk KC MP (@AlexChalkChelt) August 21, 2023

Timeline of depraved baby killer's crimes

2015:

• June 8 - Letby commits her first murder, killing Baby A
• June 10 - Just two days later, she tries to kill Baby B
• June 14 - She kills for the second time, taking the life of Baby C
• June 22 - Less than two weeks since her first murder, Letby kills Baby D
• August 4 - Letby kills Baby E and tries to kill Baby F
• July 2 - Dr Stephen Brearey carries out a review into the three deaths in June and tells Alison Kelly that Letby was the only nurse on shift for all three
• September - Letby makes two attempts to kill Baby G and later in the month messages colleagues to claim the unit is "completely unsafe"
• October 23 - Letby kills Baby I and Dr Brearey - concerned Letby is harming babies - contacts the unit manager

2016:

• February 8 - Dr Ravi Jayaram, another consultant, warns he saw Letby standing and watching as a baby seemed to have stopped breathing and contacts Ms Kelly and Ian Harvey to request an urgent meeting
• April 9 - Letby tries to kill Baby L and Baby M
• June - Letby attempts to murder Baby N and then murders Baby O
• June 24 - The killer nurse takes the life of Baby P and Dr Brearey phones the duty executive on call, Karen Rees, to say he and consultant colleagues don't want Letby to work her next shift, the plea is rejected.
• June 29 - Letby is removed from front-line duties

Letby's sentence 'reflects true scale and gravity of her horrific crimes', says detective

The deputy senior investigating officer on the Letby case said her sentence "reflects the true scale and gravity of her horrific crimes", and "ensures that a calculated and dangerous individual is behind bars for a very long time".

DCI Nicola Evans continued: "Nothing will bring back the babies who died or take away the pain and suffering experienced by all of the families over the years but I hope that the significant sentence will bring some comfort at this dark time.

"The victim impact statements read out in court today on behalf of the parents are a chilling reminder of the pain and suffering that each family has had to endure over the years. Hearing their own experiences in their own words has been truly heartbreaking."

Sir Keir accuses Government of 'dragging heels' over changing law

Sir Keir Starmer accused the Government of "dragging its heels" over changing the law to compel criminals to attend their sentencing hearings.

The Labour leader told reporters: "I want to see action as quickly as possible in this case because victims' families have been through the most awful ordeal. They're entitled to see justice delivered... So we need to change the law. I hope the Government will do it because I think it can be done very quickly.

"If they don't, we will force an amendment to appropriate legislation. But actually, my position is to invite the Government to get on with it, to offer Labour's support so this could go through very, very quickly. This isn't the first case.

"The Government has been dragging its heels on this. Get on with it for the sake of these victims, and of course, the other cases that went before it."

Legal loophole that allowed Letby to avoid facing victims' families

Legally the court could not force Letby to the dock, with Mr Justice Goss explaining the loophole.

"The sentencing hearing will take place whether she is present or not. The court has no power to force her to attend – therefore there is nothing I can do about it," he said.

This has prompted outrage from politicians and public figures who have demanded Letby be forced to face the victims of her crimes at her sentencing, while a government source previously called for "lawful enforcement" to be used as a last resort to ensure she attended court.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also said Letby was 'cowardly' for refusing to appear at her sentencing hearing.

Read more here.

Nursing boss suspended following Letby trial

A senior manager who was in charge of nursing at the Countess of Chester Hospital when Lucy Letby carried out her attacks on babies has been suspended from her current role.

It comes after hospital bosses were accused of ignoring concerns raise about Letby by her colleagues. Alison Kelly is now nursing director at The Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust in Salford.

A statement from Nicky Clarke, chief people officer at Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, said: "I can confirm Alison Kelly has been suspended. We are unable to comment any further at this moment in time."

Read more here.

Lucy Letby sentenced to whole-life order

Lucy Letby will face the rest of her life behind bars after being handed a whole-life order, becoming only the fourth woman in UK history to receive such a sentence.

The most prolific child serial killer in modern British history was convicted by a jury of murdering seven babies and trying to kill six more while working at the Countess of Chester Hospital neonatal unit between 2015 and 2016.

Mr Justice Goss said: "There was a malevolence bordering on sadism in your actions. During the course of this trial you have coldly denied any responsibility for your wrongdoing. You have no remorse. There are no mitigating factors."

Sentencing her to a whole-life order for each offence, he said: "You will spend the rest of your life in prison." The judge told her she would be provided copies of his remarks and the personal statements of the families of her victims.

He added: "You killed seven fragile babies and attempted to kill six others. Some of your victims were only a day or a few days old. All were extremely vulnerable."

Whole-life orders are the most severe punishment available in the country's criminal justice system and are reserved for those who commit the most heinous crimes.

Judge tells Letby: 'Underlying reasons' for crimes 'only known to you'

Mr Justice Goss said it was not part of his role to "reach conclusions about the underlying reasons" for Letby's actions.

"Nor could I," said the judge. He added: "For they are known only to you."

Baby murders and attempted murders 'contrary to human instincts'

Letby's crimes were "completely contrary" to normal human instincts, the judge sentencing her said.

He said: "You acted in a way that was completely contrary to the normal human instincts of nurturing and caring for babies and in gross breach of the trust that all citizens place in those who work in the medical and caring professions.

"The babies you harmed were born prematurely and some were at risk of not surviving but in each case you deliberately harmed them, intending to kill them." Mr Justice Goss continued: "The impact of your crimes has been immense."

He said "lifelong harm" had been caused after Letby targeted babies whose lives were cut short "almost as soon as they began". The judge said: "All in horrific circumstances." He added: "Loving parents have been robbed of their cherished children. You have caused deep psychological trauma."

Killer nurse took opportunities to harm babies 'while staff were on breaks'

Mr Justice Goss said Letby took opportunities to harm babies while staff were on breaks.

He said: "You knew the last thing anyone working in the unit would or did think was that someone caring for the babies was deliberately harming them." He told how handover sheets relating to all but the first four babies were found when police searched Letby's home.

He said: "I'm satisfied you started to keep these documents after the initial attacks in June 2015 as morbid records of the dreadful events surrounding the collapses of your victims and what you had done to them."

Letby's actions 'premeditated, calculated and cunning', says judge

Mr Justice Goss told the court: "There was premeditation, calculation and cunning in your actions", saying that a "great majority" of her victims "suffered acute pain".

He said Letby "relished" being in the intensive care unit where she took an interest in "uncommon" complications and targeted twins and triplets. The judge said the defendant prided herself on her professionalism which enabled her to start harming children without suspicion.

Whole-life orders: What are they?

Letby could face the rest of her life behind bars if she is handed a whole-life order, becoming only the fourth woman in UK history to receive such a sentence.

Whole-life orders are the most severe punishment available in the country's criminal justice system and are reserved for those who commit the most heinous crimes. As the most prolific child serial killer in modern British history, the 33-year-old nurse is expected to be handed such a sentence on Monday.

During the hearing Nicholas Johnson KC, prosecuting, told the court Letby's offending was a "very, very clear case" for a whole-life order to be imposed. If this happens, she will join a string of the country's most dangerous offenders who are likely to die behind bars, including Sarah Everard's killer Wayne Couzens, necrophiliac David Fuller and homegrown terrorist Ali Harbi Ali who murdered MP Sir David Amess.

A total of 70 criminals are serving a whole-life order. They will never be considered for release, unless there are exceptional compassionate grounds to warrant it. Only three women have previously been handed the sentence: the girlfriend of Moors murderer Ian Brady, Myra Hindley - who died in 2002 - and serial killers Rose West and Joanna Dennehy.

Letby could also follow in the footsteps of gun fanatic Louis De Zoysa, who was handed such a sentence last month after shooting Metropolitan Police custody sergeant Matt Ratana while handcuffed in a police cell in 2020.

PM 'looking at changing law' to ensure criminals attend sentencing

The Government is looking at changing the law to ensure criminals attend their sentencing in court, Downing Street has said.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman told reporters: "We are looking at changing the law to make sure that attendance happens. That's something we'll bring forward in due course."

On whether existing bills going through Parliament could be amended, he said: "I can't get into speculation. I would point out that the Victims and Prisoners Bill only covers victims and certain parts of criminal justice policy. So it wouldn't be an appropriate vehicle for this sort of change. But you heard from the Prime Minister that we are committed to changing the law."

Case adjourned to 12.30pm

Mr Justice Goss adjourned the case to 12.30pm when he said he would proceed to sentencing remarks.

Earlier in the hearing, Ben Myers KC, defending, said there was nothing he was able to add in mitigation that was capable of reducing the sentence. He said: "Miss Letby has maintained her innocence throughout these proceedings.

"She has now been convicted by the jury and the court therefore must and will proceed in accordance with the verdicts of guilty returned by the jury."

Letby 'was last person to hold triplet and dressed him after he died'

In a pre-recorded statement played to the court, the mother of Child O and Child P described being in a "state of shock" after two of her triplets were murdered by Letby.

She said she continued to be haunted by "vivid images" from the time and lived in "constant fear" of anything happening to her children. Speaking about the trial, she said: "Being within the courtroom environment was extremely harrowing. That was the first time I had seen Lucy Letby since 2016."

She said she sat behind a monitor so she was not in a direct line of sight and found the evidence difficult to listen to. She added: "Having to come to terms with the police investigation has made the past few years unbearable."

She told the court Letby had been the last person to hold Child P and she had dressed him after he died, adding: "She has destroyed our lives."