hello and welcome to the programme. we start with the sentencing of nurse lucy letby the most prolific killer of children in modern british history. letby has refused to appear in the dock at manchester crown court, where bereaved families are now making victim impact statements. letby has been convicted of the murder of seven babies and attempting to murder six others at the countess of chester hospital. a short while ago the prime minister rishi sunak said it was cowardly that people who commit such horrendous crimes do not face their victims . straight to manchester. anna foster is there for us now. we are slowly but surely hearing these very difficult personal statements being made to the judge during sentencing. lucy letby is not there. she will not hear them, will
we keep you dry weather with sunshine but for scotland and northern ireland, more details later shari with more details later. it is going to be showery. the serial killer, lucy letby, is to be sentenced today for murdering seven babies and attempting to murder another six at the countess of chester hospital. letby s crimes took place while she worked as a nurse on the neonatal unit between 2015 and 2016. she has indicated that she will not attend manchester crown court to hear her sentence. graham satchell reports. lucy, is it? yes. my name is.from chester police. ok to step in for two seconds? yes, 0k. yeah, thank you. the moment lucy letby was arrested. today, britain s most prolific baby killer will be told how long she ll spend in prison. but letby s lawyers have indicated she won t be present when sentence is passed. letby worked at the countess of chester hospital. she deliberately injected babies with air, force fed others
chester hospital trust, the consultants reported concerns to and who did not act in a timely way, that investigation will continue and those questions will also continue to be asked. those questions will also continue to be asked- those questions will also continue to be asked. anna foster, outside manchester to be asked. anna foster, outside manchester crown to be asked. anna foster, outside manchester crown court to be asked. anna foster, outside manchester crown court giving - to be asked. anna foster, outside manchester crown court giving us| to be asked. anna foster, outsidel manchester crown court giving us a rolling coverage there is letby is sentenced for the murder of seven babies in the attempted murder of six more. this is what the prime minister rishi sunak had to say a short time ago. he said lucy letby was cowardly not to hear the victims families statements. let s take a listen to what he had to say. the statements. let s take a listen to what he had to sa
and we have to live with the fact that all that was taken away from her in the cruellest way. this is just one family, one victim impact statement of many that we are hearing at manchester crown court this morning. each of those families having their opportunity to describe what i have been through ahead of the sentencing of lucy letby this afternoon, when the judge will take into account all of these victim impact statements. he will take into account sentencing guidelines and orders available to him. he will take into account the prosecutor requested lucy letby served a whole life order, that she never be released from prison and all of these things he will consider when he passes that sentence, which lucy letby of course is not being called to hear when he passes that sentence in the next few hours. so to hear when he passes that sentence in the next few hours. in the next few hours. so many eole in the next few hours. so many peeple affected in the next few hours. so many peopl
but letby s refusal to face the families whose lives she s destroyed has led to renewed calls to compel convicted criminals to attend court for sentencing hearings. graham satchell, bbc news. nick garnettjoins us now from outside manchester crown court. the families of the victims will get to make their personal statements, thejudge will speak but to make their personal statements, the judge will speak but apparently lucy letby will not be there to hear them. w , lucy letby will not be there to hear them. , ~ ., them. exactly. although the conviction them. exactly. although the conviction happened - them. exactly. although the conviction happened on - them. exactly. although the i conviction happened on friday, them. exactly. although the - conviction happened on friday, there was no sentencing at the time because the number of families who want to give statements was so large that it would take some considerable time. these statements are known as impact statements, they are letters