Former nurse Lucy Letby is currently on trial in Manchester Crown Court for the alleged attempted murder of a premature baby known as 'Baby K' back in February 2016. Letby, who was previously convicted for the murders of seven babies and the attempted killing of six others, denied tampering with the infant's breathing tube despite prosecutors claiming she was caught 'virtually red-handed.'
During the trial, Letby refuted the accusations, stating that she did not harm the baby and pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against her. The prosecution alleges that Letby displaced the infant's endotracheal tube, leading to a decline in the baby's blood oxygen levels while she was working at the neonatal unit.
Prosecutors claim that a senior doctor witnessed Letby failing to intervene as the infant's condition deteriorated, and further alleged that Letby made subsequent attempts to interfere with the replacement tubes. Letby defended her actions by citing hospital policy, stating that it was common practice to allow babies to 'self-correct' in such situations.
However, a nursing advisory consultant contradicted Letby's claim, emphasizing that immediate intervention was necessary for a premature baby like Baby K, who was born 15 weeks early and weighed just over a pound. The prosecution also highlighted discrepancies in Letby's actions and statements during the incident, questioning her motives and suggesting a deliberate attempt to harm the child.
Despite the prosecution's assertions, Letby maintained her innocence throughout the trial, denying any wrongdoing and rejecting accusations of attempting to harm Baby K. The trial is set to resume next week, with the judge preparing to present the case's facts to the jury for deliberation following closing arguments from both defense and prosecution teams.
