A note found in the former home of nurse Lucy Letby stating "I am evil, I did this" and 'HATE' has been released to the media on direction of the trial judge.
The Post-it note was shown to the jury this morning as the prosecution concluded its opening remarks where it outlined what it alleges was a series of attacks on vulnerable babies at the neo-natal unit of the Countess of Chester Hospital, between June 2015 and 2016.
Letby, 32, is charged with the murders of seven babies and the attempted murder of 10 others, some on more than one occasion. She denies all 22 counts and is standing trial at Manchester Crown Court.
READ MORE: Lucy Letby told worried mum 'trust me, I'm a nurse' while standing over bleeding baby
Earlier today Nicholas Johnson, KC, prosecuting, told the jury a number of "interesting items" had been found at her former home in Chester when it was raided by detectives from Cheshire Constabulary.
The jury has been told by the prosecution that Letby, from Hereford, allegedly used a number of different methods to attack vulnerable infants being treated in the neo-natal unit, including injecting air into their circulation vie intravenous lines or nasogastric feeding tubes, feeding them too much milk or saline, or poisoning their feed with insulin.
Mr Johnson said: "I have already told you that the police found a large quantity of hospital paperwork relating to many of the children whose deaths and collapses you are now considering.
"They also found some other interesting items. There were some Post-it notes with closely-written words, some of which included the names of some of her colleagues.
"On some of the notes were phrases like as 'Why/how has this happened - what process has led to this current situation?' What allegations have been made and by who? Do they have written evidence to support their comments?'
"In her writings, she expressed frustration at the fact that she was not being allowed back on to the neo-natal unit and wrote, 'I haven't done anything wrong and they have no evidence, so why have I had to hide away?' And notes also expressed concern for the long-term effects of what she feared was being alleged against her and there are also many protestations of innocence.
"But I want to show you one note in particular."
Highlighting a yellow Post-it note shown on TV screens to the jury, Mr Johnson focused on some of the words written by Letby. He said: "She wrote, 'I don't deserve to live. I killed them on purpose because I'm not good enough'. 'I am a horrible evil person' and in capital letters, 'I AM EVIL I DID THIS'."
Mr Johnson added: "Well, ladies and gentlemen, that in a nutshell is your task in this case. Whether or not she did these dreadful things is the decision you will have to make when you have heard all the evidence."
The note, covered in dense handwriting, shows sentences including: "Overwhelming fear I panic I'll never have children or marry, I'll never have a family' and 'I don't deserve to live' and 'Why me?'
This afternoon Ben Myers, KC, defending Letby, gave a brief overview of the nature of her defence and said the prosecution case was not a "done deal". He said: "There is a real danger that people will simply accept the prosecution theory of guilt and that's all we have so far, ladies and gentlemen, a theory of guilt based firmly on coincidence - if anything can be based firmly on coincidence."
The barrister, pointing to Letby sitting in the dock, told jurors: "It is important to be careful that blame is not heaped on that woman when there may be others who have made mistakes or a system which has failed."
Explaining the Post-it note, he said: "This is the anguished outpouring of a young woman in fear and despair when she realises the enormity of what's being said about her, in the moment, to herself."
Mr Myers said at the time it was written she was dealing with employment issues, including a grievance procedure with the NHS trust.
He went on: "This whole case is complicated. Sat in that dock is a young woman who says this is not her fault, so we need to look at the evidence."
The trial continues
READ NEXT:
Plane registered to Yorkshire police commissioner spotted flying loops over Wirral
'Military grade' rocket launcher found in cannabis farm
Three Signature Living hotels and a gym owed over £56m as they collapsed into administration
Woman wants to find man on Lanzarote TUI flight she had 'connection' with
Police found note saying 'I am evil, I did this' in home of Lucy Letby
