Lucy Letby sentencing as it happened: Serial baby killer nurse to die in jail after receiving whole-life order

21 August 2023, 10:16 | Updated: 21 August 2023, 14:03

Lucy Letby, the most prolific child serial killer in modern British history, will die behind bars after receiving a whole-life order.

Letby murdered seven babies and tried to kill six more while working at the Countess of Chester Hospital neonatal unit between 2015-2016.

"Some of your victims were only a day, or a few days old. All were extremely vulnerable," Mr Justice Goss said before passing sentence. 

He added: "This was a cruel, calculated and cynical campaign of child murder involving the smallest and most vulnerable children, knowing your actions were causing significant physical suffering."

Whole-life orders are the most severe punishment available in the UK criminal justice system, used only for those who commit the most serious crimes.

Letby did not appear in court for the hearing.

Read more: 'A cruel, calculated and cynical campaign of child murder': Killer nurse Lucy Letby to die behind bars

Senior Crown Prosecutor Pascale Jones, of CPS Mersey Cheshire said: "Today’s sentence means Letby will never again be able to inflict the suffering she did while working as a neonatal nurse. She has rightly been brought to justice by the courts. 

"My thoughts remain with the families of the victims who have demonstrated enormous strength in the face of extraordinary suffering.

"I hope that the trial has brought answers which had long eluded them."

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