lucy letby will spend the rest of her life in prison. she has lucy letby will spend the rest of her life in prison. she has been given a whole life order, a sentence reserved for the perpetrators of the most serious crimes, passed by a judge at manchester crown court. it judge at manchester crown court. it was said she had to engage in a cool was said she had to engage in a cool, calculating and cynical campaign of child murder. letby refused to appear in the dock so she didn t hear statements by bereaved families, nor did she hit the sentencing itself. fin families, nor did she hit the sentencing itself. families, nor did she hit the sentencing itself. on the seven offences of sentencing itself. on the seven offences of attempted - sentencing itself. on the seven offences of attempted murder, j sentencing itself. on the seven l offences of attempted murder, i sentence offences of attempted murder, i sentence you to imprisonment for life. because of the seriousness of your offence
last time today, arriving shortly before her hearing was due to begin. during letby s trial, the court was told that every time there was an unexpected death or a baby collapsed, letby had been there in person. today at her sentencing she wasn t. she stayed in the basement below the court, in herself, refusing to come to court. )let s talk to tamlin bolton a solicitor with switalskis. she represents the parents of seven of lucy letby s victims outside of the criminal proceedings. thank you forjoining us. how other families dealing? the thank you forjoining us. how other families dealing? families dealing? the families have been exceptionally families dealing? the families have been exceptionally brave families dealing? the families have | been exceptionally brave throughout the court process. they have been pragmatic and rational and allowed thejudicial pragmatic and rational and allowed the judicial system to play its role. for now though, we are giving the families space to
is really not what the that is really not what the sentencing hearing should be about. it shouldn t be about her, it should be about listening to the victims and their loved ones talking about the ordeal that they have suffered. so you then have the option of, what are you going to do if you cannot get her to court, can you impose extra years on a sentence? well, in her case, you can t impose extra years. you might be able to do that was someone given a short sentence of five or ten years, you could threaten them that if you don t attend court, we will add two or three years to your sentence and that might compel them to come to court. one possibility in a case like lucy letby, someone that is given a very long prison term, you could say to them, if you don t come to court for the sentencing hearing, then you will lose privileges while you are in prison and your prison sentence will be served in more severe or more austere conditions. that is the only other option that i can possibly s
extend the law of contempt of court, which could deal with defendants who are perhaps facing lesser sentences. that would be an additional punishment that the court could impose. there are options here that the government, i am sure are considering, and i look forward to seeing the proposals as soon as possible. seeing the proposals as soon as ossible. ., ., , ., possible. you have been calling for a chance possible. you have been calling for a change for possible. you have been calling for a change for a possible. you have been calling for a change for a long possible. you have been calling for a change for a long time possible. you have been calling for a change for a long time now. - possible. you have been calling for a change for a long time now. why| a change for a long time now. why has your party only announced it is going to do it today? to has your party only announced it is going to do it today? going to do it today? to be fair, the predecessor going to do it toda
out of the sentencing was a kick in the teeth. and 28 year old sabina nessa was murdered in a park in south east london. she was a primary school teacher. her older sister, jabina islam, called the murderer, who refused to appear, a coward . earlier, the families of lucy letby s victims gave harrowing statements in court, telling of the horror and pain of losing their children, some dying in their parent s arms. nick garnett sent this report. lucy letby, convicted of murdering seven babies, and the sentencing was not about her. after a ten month trial, a chance to tell the world about their babies and their lives. letby s victims have to stay anonymous. the luisa gonzalez first to speak today was the mother luisa gonzalez g o nza lez of gonzalez of baby. baby d was just two days old when she died. mother held a toy rabbit as she spoke.