Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC 20240704

To the door of her home. You can see her opening the door. They went inside for ten or 15 minutes and then you see lucy b brought out to then you see lucy b brought out to the Waiting Police Car. You can see the Waiting Police Car. You can see the expression on her face the Waiting Police Car. You can see the expression on herface in this footage as she has let out to the Waiting Police Car to be taken and questioned. She was arrested on three separate occasions before those 22 charges were actually brought. There were 20 hours or so of Police Interviews carried out with her. I want to show you a very small excerpt of those interviews that the police has shared with us. It is difficult to hear, but we have put the words on the screen. She was being talked about the police and they are asking her if she realises why she is there, why she might have been called for questioning. You can see there that she is saying she was aware. As a nursing team they were aware. As a nursing team they were aware of what was happening. That is new footage that has just been released by Cheshire Constabulary in the minutes following this verdict. Danny odonoghue are still with me, our reporter in court throughout this trial. In that, lucy letby is talking about the rise in Infant Deaths on the unit, something which he acknowledged that as a nursing team they were aware of. That was a key part of the defence case, wasnt it . They were suggesting that these deaths were nothing to do with lucy b. They were suggesting it was to do with feelings of care in that unit. Now we know that it was lucy b who murdered and attempted to murder those children. That was a central pillar of the defence case, the quality of the care that was delivered by unit . Quality of the care that was delivered by unit . Quality of the care that was delivered b unit . ,. Delivered by unit . Lucy letby argued that she felt delivered by unit . Lucy letby argued that she felt the delivered by unit . Lucy letby argued that she felt the staffing delivered by unit . Lucy letby argued that she felt the Staffing Levels that she felt the Staffing Levels were that she felt the Staffing Levels were not safe and it was pointed out repeatedly were not safe and it was pointed out repeatedly by her Defence Counsel that the repeatedly by her Defence Counsel that the hospital had taken on more babies that the hospital had taken on more babies and that the hospital had taken on more babies and babies of a level of prematurity that they had not previously taken on and that was the explanation as to this increase in mortality explanation as to this increase in mortality. So much of this case hinges mortality. So much of this case hinges on mortality. So much of this case hinges on the gradual detail and when hinges on the gradual detail and when you hinges on the gradual detail and when you drill down to what happened in each when you drill down to what happened in each case, it was shown that a lot in each case, it was shown that a tot of in each case, it was shown that a tot of these in each case, it was shown that a lot of these babies were clinically stable lot of these babies were clinically stable. They were premature but stable stable. They were premature but stable and often they would crash out of stable and often they would crash out of nowhere, leaving doctors and nurses out of nowhere, leaving doctors and nurses baffled. That started to fall to pieces nurses baffled. That started to fall to pieces as we were pleased with the herd to pieces as we were pleased with the herd from medical experts who said that the herd from medical experts who said that it the herd from medical experts who said that it could not be explained where said that it could not be explained where they suddenly crashed. It was also pushed by the defence team that there was also pushed by the defence team that there was a also pushed by the defence team that there was a conspiracy against her. It was there was a conspiracy against her. It was described as the gang of four consultants who had tried to apportion blame on letby for failings apportion blame on letby for failings at the hospital. This is something that was rejected by the Ury Something that was rejected by the jury today. Something that was reected by the u toda. Something that was reected by the u toda. ,. , something that was reected by the u toda. ,. , ~ jury today. Even as we are talking about that the jury today. Even as we are talking about that the contest jury today. Even as we are talking about that the contest of jury today. Even as we are talking about that the contest of gesture | jury today. Even as we are talking i about that the contest of gesture about that the contest of gesture countess of Chester Hospital has released a statement. Tote countess of Chester Hospital has released a statement. Countess of Chester Hospital has released a statement. We have had a statement from released a statement. We have had a statement from tony released a statement. We have had a statement from tony chambers, released a statement. We have had a statement from tony chambers, the | statement from tony chambers, the former Chief Executive of the countess of Chester Hospital Nhs Foundation trust. The statement says all my thoughts are with the children at the heart of this case and theirfamilies and children at the heart of this case and their families and loved children at the heart of this case and theirfamilies and loved ones children at the heart of this case and their families and loved ones at this incredibly difficult time. I am truly sorry for what all the families have gone through. The crimes that have been committed or appalling and i am deeply saddened by what has come to light. It goes on to say the trial and the lengthy Police Investigation has shown the complex nature of the issues raised. He says he will cooperate fully and openly with any post trial inquiry. That statement from tony chambers, the former Chief Executive of the countess of Chester Hospitals Nhs Foundation trust. We are bringing you the breaking news that lucy letby has been found guilty of murdering seven babies in her care and attempting to murder six babies in her care. She was acquitted of two attempted murder charges and the jury two attempted murder charges and the jury were undecided on six attempted murder charges. 0r correspondent anna foster is outside Manchester Crown court for us. We are hearing that sentencing is going to take place on monday, 21st of august at 10am. ~. ,. ,. , 10am. What more do we know . Of course, 10am. What more do we know . Of course. In 10am. What more do we know . Of course. In this 10am. What more do we know . Of course, in this case 10am. What more do we know . Of course, in this case we 10am. What more do we know . Of course, in this case we would 10am. What more do we know . Of. Course, in this case we would expect a significant custodial sentence. We will also hear Victim Impact statements from the families of those babies who lucy letby either murdered or attempted to murder. Interesting hearing that statement that you just read from the former Chief Executive of the countess of Chester Hospital. The trust that looks after that hospital. We are expecting to hear quite a few statements over the next two hours and you will hear them here on bbc news as they happen. Some of them will happen here at Manchester Crown court, where we will hear from the police and the cps. We will hear statements like that one from former members of the trust, former employees at the hospital at the time of the offending, but we will also expect in the next few hours to hear from the current management of the countess of Chester Hospital. That of course will be important. You were talking to us, dan, about the way they care of that Neonatal Unit had been called into question at several points in that trial by lucy b lucy letbys defence team. We saw in the piece about the background. Some of what was going on potentially in lucy letbys head. You were there when this part of the trial was happening, the notes that were found, the diaries that were found, giving perhaps a small insight into her mental state. Tell us a bit more about the content of those notes, because they were important. Those notes, because they were important those notes, because they were imortant. ,. ,. ,. Important. These notes, as we have already discussed, important. These notes, as we have already discussed, they important. These notes, as we have already discussed, they had important. These notes, as we have already discussed, they had various| already discussed, they had various phrases, already discussed, they had various phrases, such as i am able, i did this phrases, such as i am able, i did this the phrases, such as i am able, i did this. The prosecution obviously highlighted that and said it was a confession to her crimes. The defence confession to her crimes. The defence said that these were the outpourings of an anguished young wonren outpourings of an anguished young women. We were told repeatedly that lucy letby women. We were told repeatedly that lucy letby is passionate about working. Lucy letby is passionate about working, she had always wanted to working, she had always wanted to work with working, she had always wanted to work with children, this was her own life and work with children, this was her own life and when she was returned from that Neonatal Unit in summer 2016 and placed that Neonatal Unit in summer 2016 and placed in an admin role, she said that and placed in an admin role, she said that this caused an unbelievable amount of distress and that these unbelievable amount of distress and that these writings on various postit that these writings on various post it notes, a4 sheets, some of them post it notes, a4 sheets, some of them were post it notes, a4 sheets, some of them were found in her workplace, in her house. Them were found in her workplace, in her house, they were reallyjust a way for her house, they were reallyjust a way for her her house, they were reallyjust a way for her to get things off her chest way for her to get things off her chest and way for her to get things off her chest and the jury should not read anything chest and the jury should not read anything into this. Obviously, we dont anything into this. Obviously, we dont know anything into this. Obviously, we dont know what consideration they have been dont know what consideration they have been given in the jury room, but it have been given in the jury room, but it was have been given in the jury room, but it was quite a shocking thing to see in but it was quite a shocking thing to see in the but it was quite a shocking thing to see in the courtroom, given all the allegations see in the courtroom, given all the allegations against her. The contrasts allegations against her. The contrasts between allegations against her. Tue contrasts between some of the messages she was exchanging with friends about holidays, nights out, sometimes on the same day she attempted to kill a baby in her care. , attempted to kill a baby in her care, attempted to kill a baby in her care. ,. , attempted to kill a baby in her care. ,. ,. Care. The cps said she was almost blockin care. The cps said she was almost blocking her care. The cps said she was almost blocking her behaviour, care. The cps said she was almost blocking her behaviour, posting i care. The cps said she was almost. Blocking her behaviour, posting and updating blocking her behaviour, posting and updating constantly throughout her shifts updating constantly throughout her shifts. This was pulled a couple of times shifts. This was pulled a couple of times on shifts. This was pulled a couple of times on a shifts. This was pulled a couple of times on a couple of the cases when she would times on a couple of the cases when she would complain about certain colleagues when she was allocated less sick colleagues when she was allocated less sick babies, the nurses are graded less sick babies, the nurses are graded 14, less sick babies, the nurses are graded 1 4, and she wasnt in a nursery graded 1 4, and she wasnt in a nursery that she felt she should be in, nursery that she felt she should be in. She nursery that she felt she should be in, she would be complaining to colleagues and would suggest that sometimes out of frustration she attacked sometimes out of frustration she attacked some of these children as she was attacked some of these children as she was not what she felt she should have been she was not what she felt she should have been in that hospital. Some of these have been in that hospital. Some of these conversations went on into the early hours these conversations went on into the early hours and it just goes to show what was early hours and it just goes to show what was going on in her mind at the time of what was going on in her mind at the time of these attacks. It is symptomatic time of these attacks. It is symptomatic of time of these attacks. It is symptomatic of any time of these attacks. It is symptomatic of any trial. Time of these attacks. It is| symptomatic of any trial of time of these attacks. Tt 3 symptomatic of any trial of this side sighs when you look at the two pictures of lucy letby painted a this trial, the defence case that she was an ordinary, caring, qualified nurse doing her best in a difficult situation and the prosecution case strongly that she was a calculating woman, someone committing the worst possible crimes against children in her care, and at the same time was creating this sort of cloak of normality, was living this entirely normal life, which was so at odds with the terrible crimes she was committing well at work. She used at normality as a way to disguise used at normality as a way to disguise some of these horrendous acts~ disguise some of these horrendous acts~ from disguise some of these horrendous acts. From the messages, former behaviours, acts. From the messages, former behaviours, she was on the face of itiust behaviours, she was on the face of itiustiust behaviours, she was on the face of itiustiust a behaviours, she was on the face of itjustjust a normal behaviours, she was on the face of it just just a normal 25 year old woman it just just a normal 25 year old woman saving for a deposit, she bought woman saving for a deposit, she bought a woman saving for a deposit, she bought a house just round the corner from the bought a house just round the corner from the hospital in the end. She would from the hospital in the end. She would go from the hospital in the end. She would go on nights out with friends, holidays would go on nights out with friends, holidays with her parents, she had hobbies, holidays with her parents, she had hobbies, she regularly went Salsa Dancing hobbies, she regularly went Salsa Dancing classes. On the face of it there dancing classes. On the face of it there was dancing classes. On the face of it there was nothing out of the ordinary there was nothing out of the ordinary with this woman. Sometimes in some ordinary with this woman. Sometimes in some of ordinary with this woman. Sometimes in some of the messages she would send, in some of the messages she would send. She in some of the messages she would send, she would gaslight her colleagues, suggest reasons why some of the colleagues, suggest reasons why some of the children in this case had collapse of the children in this case had collapse will become ill. Alljust to cover collapse will become ill. Alljust to cover some of the actions that she had to cover some of the actions that she had gone on to commit. There were several she had gone on to commit. There were several cases she had gone on to commit. There were several cases that she had gone on to commit. There were several cases that were were several cases that were particularly noticeable, one that stands out is where the parent of a child walked in on what she didnt realise at the time was lucy leckies attempting to murder her baby. Leckies attempting to murder her bab. Leckies attempting to murder her bab. ,. Leckies attempting to murder her bab. ,. Baby. This was a particularly distressing baby. This was a particularly distressing day baby. This was a particularly distressing day for baby. This was a particularly distressing day for everyone baby. This was a particularly i distressing day for everyone in court distressing day for everyone in court a distressing day for everyone in court. A lot of the parents in this case court. A lot of the parents in this case had court. A lot of the parents in this case had statements read describing the moment there child collapsed or died. The moment there child collapsed or died the the moment there child collapsed or died. The mother of the baby was in the witness died. The mother of the baby was in the witness box and said that on a night the witness box and said that on a night she the witness box and said that on a night she went on to the Neonatal Unit to night she went on to the Neonatal Unit to feed her child and as she was approaching the Neonatal Unit she said was approaching the Neonatal Unit she said she heard her son making sounds she said she heard her son making sounds that she said she heard her son making sounds that a baby should never make sounds that a baby should never make she sounds that a baby should never make. She arrived on to that hospital make. She arrived on to that Hospital Unit and find her son in a severe Hospital Unit and find her son in a severe state of distress. Lucy letby was the severe state of distress. Lucy letby was the only person in the room at that time was the only person in the room at that time. As a concerned mother she approached that time. As a concerned mother she approached her immediately and said can you approached her immediately and said can you help my son. She said that lucy b can you help my son. She said that lucy b had can you help my son. She said that lucy b had told her that Lucy Letby Lucy b had told her that lucy letby had lucy b had told her that lucy letby had said it was ok, a doctor was on letby had said it was ok, a doctor was on her letby had said it was ok, a doctor was on her way and she should go back was on her way and she should go back to was on her way and she should go back to the was on her way and she should go back to the ward. She did that and called back to the ward. She did that and called her back to the ward. She did that and called her husband on the way back to the called her husband on the way back to the ward. We were shown Phone Records to the ward. We were shown Phone Records to to the ward. We were shown Phone Records to prove the time of this court. Records to prove the time of this court, which are related she had seen court, which are related she had seen and court, which are related she had seen and how distressed she was. Lucy letby seen and how distressed she was. Lucy letby was asked about this in cross lucy letby was asked about this in Cross Examination and she simply said that Cross Examination and she simply said that the mothers recollection was not said that the mothers recollection was not correct, the mother had must remember was not correct, the mother had must remember that situation and the prosecution said this is a straight up prosecution said this is a straight up Credibility Test between a mother who lost up Credibility Test between a mother who lost her son and between lucy letby. Who lost her son and between lucy letby. And who lost her son and between lucy letby, and it is obvious which way the jury letby, and it is obvious which way the jury went. In letby, and it is obvious which way the jury went the jury went. In some cases as well, the jury went. In some cases as well. Letby. The jury went. In some cases as well, letby, after the jury went. In some cases as well, letby, after a the jury went. In some cases as well, letby, after a baby the jury went. In some cases as well, letby, after a baby died, l the jury went. In some cases as i well, letby, after a baby died, she went online, look to family members. In one case she actually sent a Sympathy Card to the parents of a child that we now know she had murdered. Child that we now know she had murdered child that we now know she had murdered. ,. , murdered. Yes, this was something hi. Hli. Hted murdered. Yes, this was something highlighted many murdered. Yes, this was something highlighted many times. Murdered. Yes, this was something highlighted many times. The highlighted many times. The prosecution one day close their speech prosecution one day close their speech at prosecution one day close their speech at the jury, they lent 11 common speech at the jury, they lent 11 common factors linking these cases together, common factors linking these cases together, one of them was inappropriate behaviour towards parents~ inappropriate behaviour towards parents. There was the sending of this Sympathy Card, something not really this Sympathy Card, something not really done by nurses. , there were other really done by nurses. , there were other times really done by nurses. , there were other times where she went on to family other times where she went on to family rooms where parents had just lost her family rooms where parents had just lost her child. She was asked to leave lost her child. She was asked to leave on lost her child. She was asked to leave on several occasions. Thank you, dan. You can also look on the bbc news website, much more context and background, much more to come at Manchester Crown court, where lucy letty has been found guilty of murdering seven babies in her care, and attempting to murder six more. Is so much attention, a case of a nurse who murdered seven babies who were in her care at the Neonatal Unit at the countess of Chester Hospital and attempted to murder a further six. This is a trial which has continued for months, in fact nine months between the Opening Statements being made and thejury being sent out to consider those 22 charges against lucy letby, some of which, it is important to say, they failed to reach a verdict on, and we expect to hear in the next 20 days or so, the Crown Prosecution Service have told us they will make a decision on whether or not to seek a retrial on those counts in which the jury retrial on those counts in which the jury was unable to decide whether lucy letby was guilty or not guilty