regime, by having regard to schedule 21 to the criminaljustice act, - regime, by having regard to schedule 21 to the criminaljustice act, i- 21 to the criminaljustice act, i have _ 21 to the criminaljustice act, i have to — 21 to the criminaljustice act, i have to determine _ 21 to the criminaljustice act, i have to determine whether. 21 to the criminaljustice act, ii have to determine whether the seriousness _ have to determine whether the seriousness of _ have to determine whether the seriousness of the _ have to determine whether the seriousness of the offences - have to determine whether the seriousness of the offences ofi seriousness of the offences of murder, — seriousness of the offences of murder, individually- seriousness of the offences of murder, individually or- seriousness of the offences of murder, individually or in - murder, individually or in combination, _ murder, individually or in combination, is- murder, individually or in combination, is so- murder, individually or in - combination, is so exceptionally high, _ combination, is so exceptionally high, i_ combination, is so exceptionally high, ishould— combination, is so exceptionally high, i should not— combination, is so exceptionally high, i should not make - combination, is so exceptionally high, i should not make a - combination, is so exceptionally - high, i should not make a minimum term— high, i should not make a minimum term order— high, i should not make a minimum term orderend— high, i should not make a minimum term order and you _ high, i should not make a minimum term order and you should - high, i should not make a minimum term order and you should spend i high, i should not make a minimumi term order and you should spend the rest of— term order and you should spend the rest of your— term order and you should spend the rest of your life — term order and you should spend the rest of your life in _ term order and you should spend the rest of your life in prison. _ fervent imprisonment or reserved for whotly— fervent imprisonment or reserved for wholly exceptional— fervent imprisonment or reserved for wholly exceptional cases. _ fervent imprisonment or reserved for wholly exceptional cases. over- fervent imprisonment or reserved for wholly exceptional cases. over a - wholly exceptional cases. over a period _ wholly exceptional cases. over a period of— wholly exceptional cases. over a period oqust _ wholly exceptional cases. over a period ofjust under— wholly exceptional cases. over a period ofjust under 13— wholly exceptional cases. over a period ofjust under 13 months, i wholly exceptional cases. over a i period ofjust under 13 months, you kitted _ period ofjust under 13 months, you kitted seven — period ofjust under 13 months, you killed seven fragile _ period ofjust under 13 months, you killed seven fragile babies - period ofjust under 13 months, you killed seven fragile babies and - killed seven fragile babies and attempted _ killed seven fragile babies and attempted to _ killed seven fragile babies and attempted to kill— killed seven fragile babies and attempted to kill six _ killed seven fragile babies and attempted to kill six others. . killed seven fragile babies and - attempted to kill six others. some of your— attempted to kill six others. some of your victims— attempted to kill six others. some of your victims were _ attempted to kill six others. some of your victims were only- attempted to kill six others. some of your victims were only a - attempted to kill six others. some of your victims were only a day- attempted to kill six others. some of your victims were only a day ori attempted to kill six others. some i of your victims were only a day or a few days _ of your victims were only a day or a few days old. — of your victims were only a day or a few days old. oh _ of your victims were only a day or a few days old, oh extremely - few days old, oh extremely vulnerable. _ few days old, oh extremely vulnerable. they _ few days old, oh extremely vulnerable. they were - few days old, oh extremely vulnerable. they were in i few days old, oh extremely vulnerable. they were in a i few days old, oh extremely - vulnerable. they were in a hospital where _ vulnerable. they were in a hospital where others — vulnerable. they were in a hospital where others were _ vulnerable. they were in a hospital where others were striving - vulnerable. they were in a hospital where others were striving to - where others were striving to provide — where others were striving to provide them _ where others were striving to provide them with _ where others were striving to provide them with dedicatedl where others were striving to - provide them with dedicated medical and nursing — provide them with dedicated medical and nursing care. _ provide them with dedicated medical and nursing care. by— provide them with dedicated medical and nursing care. by their— provide them with dedicated medical and nursing care. by their nature - and nursing care. by their nature and nursing care. by their nature and number, _ and nursing care. by their nature and number, such— and nursing care. by their nature and number, such murders- and nursing care. by their nature and number, such murders and i and number, such murders and attempted _ and number, such murders and attempted murders _ and number, such murders and attempted murders by- and number, such murders and attempted murders by a - and number, such murders and . attempted murders by a neonatal nurse _ attempted murders by a neonatal nurse entrusted _ attempted murders by a neonatal nurse entrusted to _ attempted murders by a neonatal nurse entrusted to care _ attempted murders by a neonatal nurse entrusted to care for - attempted murders by a neonatal nurse entrusted to care for them i attempted murders by a neonatal. nurse entrusted to care for them are offences— nurse entrusted to care for them are offences of— nurse entrusted to care for them are offences of very _ nurse entrusted to care for them are offences of very exceptional - offences of very exceptional seriousness _ offences of very exceptional seriousness. the _ offences of very exceptional seriousness. the damaging| offences of very exceptional - seriousness. the damaging impact of your actions— seriousness. the damaging impact of your actions on — seriousness. the damaging impact of your actions on others _ seriousness. the damaging impact of your actions on others at _ seriousness. the damaging impact of your actions on others at that - your actions on others at that hospital. _ your actions on others at that hospital, including _ your actions on others at that hospital, including those - your actions on others at that hospital, including those whoi hospital, including those who numbered _ hospital, including those who numbered you _ hospital, including those who numbered you as _ hospital, including those who numbered you as a _ hospital, including those who numbered you as a friend, i hospital, including those who . numbered you as a friend, were trying _ numbered you as a friend, were trying their— numbered you as a friend, were trying their trust— numbered you as a friend, were trying their trust and _ numbered you as a friend, were trying their trust and creating i trying their trust and creating upset — trying their trust and creating upset and _ trying their trust and creating upset and suspicion, - trying their trust and creating upset and suspicion, as - trying their trust and creating upset and suspicion, as welli trying their trust and creating i upset and suspicion, as well as eroding — upset and suspicion, as well as eroding confidence _ upset and suspicion, as well as eroding confidence in - upset and suspicion, as well as eroding confidence in collisions upset and suspicion, as well as - eroding confidence in collisions and nurses— eroding confidence in collisions and nurses have — eroding confidence in collisions and nurses have generally, _ eroding confidence in collisions and nurses have generally, provides - nurses have generally, provides their— nurses have generally, provides their seriousness. _ nurses have generally, provides their seriousness. this - nurses have generally, provides their seriousness. this was - nurses have generally, provides their seriousness. this was a i nurses have generally, provides . their seriousness. this was a cruel, regulated _ their seriousness. this was a cruel, regulated and — their seriousness. this was a cruel, regulated and cynical— their seriousness. this was a cruel, regulated and cynical campaign - their seriousness. this was a cruel, regulated and cynical campaign of i regulated and cynical campaign of child murder— regulated and cynical campaign of child murder involving _ regulated and cynical campaign of child murder involving the - regulated and cynical campaign of. child murder involving the smallest and most _ child murder involving the smallest and most vulnerable _ child murder involving the smallest and most vulnerable children, - and most vulnerable children, knowing — and most vulnerable children, knowing that _ and most vulnerable children, knowing that your _ and most vulnerable children, knowing that your actions - and most vulnerable children, | knowing that your actions were causing — knowing that your actions were causing significant— knowing that your actions were causing significant physical- causing significant physical suffering _ causing significant physical suffering and _ causing significant physical suffering and would - causing significant physical suffering and would causel causing significant physical- suffering and would cause untold mentat _ suffering and would cause untold mental suffering. _ suffering and would cause untold mental suffering. you _ suffering and would cause untold mental suffering. you created i mental suffering. you created situations _ mental suffering. you created situations so _ mental suffering. you created situations so that _ mental suffering. you created situations so that collapses i mental suffering. you created situations so that collapses or causes — situations so that collapses or causes of— situations so that collapses or causes of collapses _ situations so that collapses or causes of collapses would - situations so that collapses or causes of collapses would not| situations so that collapses or i causes of collapses would not be obvious — causes of collapses would not be obvious or — causes of collapses would not be obvious or associated _ causes of collapses would not be obvious or associated with - causes of collapses would not be obvious or associated with you. i causes of collapses would not be i obvious or associated with you. you removed _ obvious or associated with you. you removed and — obvious or associated with you. you removed and retained _ obvious or associated with you. you removed and retained confidential. removed and retained confidential records _ removed and retained confidential records of— removed and retained confidential records of events _ removed and retained confidential records of events relating - removed and retained confidential records of events relating to - removed and retained confidential records of events relating to youri records of events relating to your crimes— records of events relating to your crimes and — records of events relating to your crimes and checked _ records of events relating to your crimes and checked up _ records of events relating to your crimes and checked up on- records of events relating to your. crimes and checked up on bereaved parents~ _ crimes and checked up on bereaved parents there _ crimes and checked up on bereaved parents. there was _ crimes and checked up on bereaved parents. there was a _ crimes and checked up on bereaved parents. there was a deep - parents. there was a deep malevolence _ parents. there was a deep malevolence bordering - parents. there was a deep malevolence bordering on| parents. there was a deep - malevolence bordering on sadism in your actions — malevolence bordering on sadism in youractions~ during— malevolence bordering on sadism in your actions. during the _ malevolence bordering on sadism in your actions. during the course - malevolence bordering on sadism in your actions. during the course of. your actions. during the course of this triat— your actions. during the course of this trial you _ your actions. during the course of this trial you have _ your actions. during the course of this trial you have coldly- your actions. during the course of this trial you have coldly denied . this trial you have coldly denied any responsibility— this trial you have coldly denied any responsibility for— this trial you have coldly denied any responsibility for your - any responsibility for your wrongdoing _ any responsibility for your wrongdoing and _ any responsibility for your wrongdoing and sought i any responsibility for your wrongdoing and sought to any responsibility for your - wrongdoing and sought to attribute some _ wrongdoing and sought to attribute some fault— wrongdoing and sought to attribute some fault to — wrongdoing and sought to attribute some fault to others. _ wrongdoing and sought to attribute some fault to others. you - wrongdoing and sought to attribute some fault to others. you have - wrongdoing and sought to attribute some fault to others. you have noi some fault to others. you have no remorse~ — some fault to others. you have no remorse~ there _ some fault to others. you have no remorse. there are _ some fault to others. you have no remorse. there are no— some fault to others. you have no remorse. there are no mitigatingi remorse. there are no mitigating factors _ remorse. there are no mitigating factors in— remorse. there are no mitigating factors. in their— remorse. there are no mitigating factors. in their totality— remorse. there are no mitigating factors. in their totality the - factors. in their totality the offences _ factors. in their totality the offences of _ factors. in their totality the offences of murder- factors. in their totality the offences of murder and - factors. in their totality the - offences of murder and attempted murder— offences of murder and attempted murder were — offences of murder and attempted murderwere of— offences of murder and attempted murder were of exceptionally- offences of murder and attempted murder were of exceptionally high| murder were of exceptionally high seriousness — murder were of exceptionally high seriousness and _ murder were of exceptionally high seriousness and just— murder were of exceptionally high seriousness and just punishment. seriousness and just punishment according — seriousness and just punishment according to _ seriousness and just punishment according to law— seriousness and just punishment according to law requires - seriousness and just punishment according to law requires a - seriousness and just punishment| according to law requires a whole life order~ — according to law requires a whole life order. lucy— according to law requires a whole life order. lucy letby, _ according to law requires a whole life order. lucy letby, on - according to law requires a whole life order. lucy letby, on each i according to law requires a whole life order. lucy letby, on each ofj life order. lucy letby, on each of the seven— life order. lucy letby, on each of the seven offences _ life order. lucy letby, on each of the seven offences of _ life order. lucy letby, on each of the seven offences of murder- life order. lucy letby, on each of| the seven offences of murder and life order. lucy letby, on each of - the seven offences of murder and the seven— the seven offences of murder and the seven offences — the seven offences of murder and the seven offences of _ the seven offences of murder and the seven offences of attempted - the seven offences of murder and the seven offences of attempted murder, i seven offences of attempted murder, i sentence _ seven offences of attempted murder, i sentence you — seven offences of attempted murder, i sentence you to _ seven offences of attempted murder, i sentence you to imprisonment - seven offences of attempted murder, i sentence you to imprisonment for. i sentence you to imprisonment for life. i sentence you to imprisonment for life because — i sentence you to imprisonment for life. because the _ i sentence you to imprisonment for life. because the seriousness- i sentence you to imprisonment for life. because the seriousness of. life. because the seriousness of your— life. because the seriousness of your offences _ life. because the seriousness of your offences is _ life. because the seriousness of your offences is exceptionally. life. because the seriousness of. your offences is exceptionally high, that the _ your offences is exceptionally high, that the early— your offences is exceptionally high, that the early release _ your offences is exceptionally high, that the early release provisions i your offences is exceptionally high, that the early release provisions do not apply — that the early release provisions do not apply. the _ that the early release provisions do not apply. the order— that the early release provisions do not apply. the order of— that the early release provisions do not apply. the order of the - that the early release provisions do not apply. the order of the court i not apply. the order of the court therefore — not apply. the order of the court therefore is _ not apply. the order of the court therefore is a _ not apply. the order of the court therefore is a whole _ not apply. the order of the court therefore is a whole life - not apply. the order of the court therefore is a whole life order. not apply. the order of the court| therefore is a whole life order on each _ therefore is a whole life order on each of— therefore is a whole life order on each of every _ therefore is a whole life order on each of every offence _ therefore is a whole life order on each of every offence and - therefore is a whole life order on each of every offence and you . therefore is a whole life order oni each of every offence and you will spend _ each of every offence and you will spend the — each of every offence and you will spend the rest— each of every offence and you will spend the rest of— each of every offence and you will spend the rest of your _ each of every offence and you will spend the rest of your life - each of every offence and you will spend the rest of your life in - spend the rest of your life in prison _ spend the rest of your life in rison. �* . spend the rest of your life in rison. . . , ,. spend the rest of your life in rison. ~ . , ,. , prison. and that is the scene inside court number _ prison. and that is the scene inside court number seven _ prison. and that is the scene inside court number seven here _ prison. and that is the scene inside court number seven here at - court number seven here at manchester crown court. we were watching the judge mrjustice goss delivering his sentencing remarks, passing sentence on lucy letby, the nurse who murdered seven babies in her care and attempted to murder six more and as he heard there, the judge has handed down the most serious and comprehensive statement available to him. he was saying that the crime of murder carries a mandatory life sentence in law but he has decided on each of those convictions that lucy letby will serve a whole life sentence. that means as he was saying the early release provisions will not apply. it means in simple terms, lucy letby, 33 years of age, will spend the rest of her life in prison. but you couldn't see of course they the at the farm the camera trained very firmly on thejudge at the farm the camera trained very firmly on the judge mrjustice goss firmly on the judge mrjustice 6055 but as he delivered the remarks there was silence in court, many of there was silence in court, many of the families who were gathered in the families who were gathered in the public gallery watching those sentencing remarks being delivered were crying as they heard mrjustice goss speak. for them it is the culmination of a process, a trial process which has lasted almost ten months but a process, an ordeal which began in 2015 and 2016 for some of them, the birth of their premature babies, the death of those babies and then discovering that one of the nurses who were supposed to be caring for them, when they were at their most vulnerable, most fragile as it is described, lucy letby was ultimately responsible for their murder, in the cases of attempted murder we heard from some of the parents in court this morning and their victim impact statements that those children lucy letby tried to kill but was not successful in doing so, the way their lives have been affected and impacted in those subsequent years. we heard about children for who the quality of life now is next to nothing. we heard the mother of one of the children who has a life limiting injuries as a result of lucy letby�*s murder attempt, the mother only now gets two hours sleep a night, we heard the parents of those children who when those children are in hospital, for their continuing medical requirements, the parents feel they cannot leave them alone in the care of medical staff because this is something that the parents have been living with for so many years. whole life order is in the case of lucy letby for all of the crimes she has been convicted of. speak to steve brian mp who is the chair of the health and social care select committee, listening to that sentence. before we move onto some of the wider issues that have been raised by this case what is your reaction to sentencing of lucy letby who will spend we now know the rest of her life in prison? ijust of her life in prison? i 'ust watched it i of her life in prison? i 'ust watched it on i of her life in prison? i 'ust watched it on bbc�* of her life in prison? ijust watched it on bbc news i of her life in prison? ijust i watched it on bbc news with of her life in prison? ijust - watched it on bbc news with my children. it is heartbreaking. the reaction of most people in the country will be seven life sentences and the rest of your life in prison will be it is not enough. that will be the human reaction to this. this whole thing is a tragedy. first and foremost a tragedy for the families whose children arrive are either severely damaged or will not grow to be the children don't like it is a tragedy for everyone concerned, a waste of life all round, and i said yesterday on the bbc and i repeat it today i think the ramifications of this for society and for the health system will be very long reaching and my initial reaction is i think many people in the country will share that it is an absolute disgrace that she wasn't there to face up to what she has done. we will i hope change the law to make sure that defendants here exactly what is said to them, whether that be through the use of technology or be through the use of technology or be in the dock in person and we have to find a way they don't exert control over the sentencing process and make it all about them, but they should face what they have done and it is a disgrace that lucy letby... as we have been reflecting all morning, trying to bring you as much as possible of those victim impact statements, to put the families of those babies and children at the heart of all of this because they are the people at the front of mind today, we have talked about lucy letby�*s olise, the jury, today, we have talked about lucy letby�*s olise, thejury, many today, we have talked about lucy letby�*s olise, the jury, many people who have had to sit through all the evidence but in the victim impact statements you really have a sense of the way this impacts their whole lives, their memories, perhaps surviving children, siblings, we have talked about it affecting marriages, heard from some of the spares describing how they even considered taking their own lives, in the case of one parent she said she thought it she took her own life she thought it she took her own life she would see her daughter again on the other side. we can spend enough time and focus on those parents and the awful ordeal they have been through, can we?— the awful ordeal they have been through, can we? absolutely and i have heard — through, can we? absolutely and i have heard some _ through, can we? absolutely and i have heard some of— through, can we? absolutely and i have heard some of them. - through, can we? absolutely and i have heard some of them. the - have heard some of them. the families throughout this nightmare of the trial and two years before, i understand from people close to all of this, they have just conducted themselves with the most incredible dignity and poise and wanted to see justice done. it has been today. i as an mp obviously have been aware and involved in baby loss over the years and in my local hospital recently talking about how we handle baby loss with parents. let's remember these families have been through baby loss and then subsequently found that it has been at the hands of somebody who did it deliberately. you can understand, that must be unbearable to take, and the statements this morning are piercing in what they say and i thought it was very good, the judge said he was to see the transcript of every word he said and every word they said given to the convicted today. the other thing that struck me in listening to his opening remarks is how he said that the convicted relied on the fact that it was so improbable that somebody in her position would do such a thing and she almost relied on that to get away with it for so long. that is what i think makes people so sad and angry today and why the ensuing inquiry into the system is so important now.— inquiry into the system is so important now. inquiry into the system is so imortant now. �*, . ,, . . important now. let's talk about that for a moment _ important now. let's talk about that for a moment. before _ important now. let's talk about that for a moment. before that - important now. let's talk about that for a moment. before that i - important now. let's talk about that for a moment. before that i want i important now. let's talk about that for a moment. before that i want to | for a moment. before that i want to make the point i had to make it extremely strongly that these are fortunately very rare cases and there are many dedicated hard—working, compassionate doctors, ha rd—working, compassionate doctors, nurses, hard—working, compassionate doctors, nurses, medicalstaff hard—working, compassionate doctors, nurses, medical staff working in hospitals up and down the country and at a moment like this it is important to acknowledge and remember that. important to acknowledge and rememberthat. it important to acknowledge and remember that. it is also, though, doubtless a moment of nervousness perhaps for new parents, people who are about to give birth. they will be wondering whether or not the system is safe. what can you say to them? ' :: :: , ., system is safe. what can you say to them? ' :: ii' . i. system is safe. what can you say to them? ' i: in ., , system is safe. what can you say to them? ' :: ii' . , them? 100% what you 'ust said. the nhs is them? 10096 what you 'ust said. the nhs is full them? 10096 what you 'ust said. the was is fun of _ them? 10096 what you 'ust said. the nhs is full of caring _ them? 10096 what you just said. the nhs is full of caring people - them? 10096 what you just said. the nhs is full of caring people and - them? 10096 what you just said. the nhs is full of caring people and the l nhs is full of caring people and the nhs is full of caring people and the nhs is full of caring people and the nhs is a massive organisation. like society, 99.9% of people are good people and bad things happen within society and bad things happen within the nhs. the inquiry that now must have been, you use the word reflection, at moments like this we reflection, at moments like this we reflect and that is fine and important, but reflection without action is not worth enough, so there are two things i think should happen, one where i think the select committee chair can help. there have been us a public inquiry is on the nhs over the years, bristol, shipman, made stuff, a lot of recommendations have been made, it is still the case of the recommendations made with shipman have been endorsed and made stops by robert francis have only now started to be implemented sol robert francis have only now started to be implemented so i think there is a piece of work to be done to look at those recommendations and to make sure they have been followed through and those that haven't we need to find out why and then there is inquiry itself to really i think a judge led inquiry is required here and i think it should compel witnesses, not to say that people who are involved in the chief executive of chester said it will comply fully, that is great and so he should, but as this goes on, there may be people who don't wish to enter the inquiry needs to be able to reach wherever it wants to go and wherever the families feel it needs to go and i think the thing that draws those two points together, the common thread is what you alluded to in your question, confidence. the public need to be reassured and have confidence in the system and therefore the inquiry is absolutely critical in doing that. it could be some time before it gets under way, it could be some time before it gets underway, i it could be some time before it gets under way, i understand the police are investigating other debts and it may be awhile before it gets on the weight but i think robert francis made a good point the other day when he said they should look at the terms of reference now and may be involved in the process, and then we move forward from there. let involved in the process, and then we move forward from there.— involved in the process, and then we move forward from there. let me ask ou move forward from there. let me ask you finally. — move forward from there. let me ask you finally. what _ move forward from there. let me ask you finally, what will— move forward from there. let me ask you finally, what will you _ move forward from there. let me ask you finally, what will you be - move forward from there. let me ask you finally, what will you be doing - you finally, what will you be doing from this point on, because select committees have an enormously important role, you are there with cross—party colleagues, able to perhaps work together in a way we don't always see in parliament, and are so many things that are going to happen in terms of inquiries and further investigations. what are you personally going to be doing to help and assist with that? we will not step on any ongoing potice _ we will not step on any ongoing police work _ we will not step on any ongoing police work in _ we will not step on any ongoing police work-— we will not step on any ongoing olice work. , ., . . police work. in terms of an audit, i have an expert _ police work. in terms of an audit, i have an expert panel _ police work. in terms of an audit, i have an expert panel that - police work. in terms of an audit, i have an expert panel that advisesl police work. in terms of an audit, i i have an expert panel that advises me and looks at promises government has made in various areas of policy. rob francis, who chaired the mid staffordshire inquiry is on the panel. it is possible we may as a committee, which we will discuss imminently, may wish to ask them to look at recommendations made by previous inquiries. before summer recess we were approached by an mp who chairs an all—party group around whistle—blowing in the nhs for an inquiry to look into the culture around whistle—blowing and leadership in the nhs. it is a cross—party committee and we will discuss that asap. i think it is possible we will be looking at whistle—blowing and its role because without wishing to pre—empt what a public inquiry says, you heard what the medical director said about them trying to raise alarm at this and ending up having to write apology letters to the convicted lucy letby to say sorry for questioning her. something feels very wrong about that. thank you for saying that, select committees are important, they are cross—party, they have the confidence of the commons, and we will do our bit. whatever we can do to help in this awful, awful episode. to help in this awful, awful episode-— to help in this awful, awful eisode. . ,, i. , . to help in this awful, awful eisode. ., ~ , . ., episode. thank you very much for “oininu episode. thank you very much for joining us. _ episode. thank you very much for joining us. the — episode. thank you very much for joining us, the chair— episode. thank you very much for joining us, the chair of— episode. thank you very much for joining us, the chair of the - episode. thank you very much for joining us, the chair of the health | joining us, the chair of the health and social care select committee. thank you for being with us on bbc news at manchester crown court, bringing you coverage of the sentencing of lucy letby, the 33—year—old nurse convicted of murdering seven babies in her care at the neonatal unit at the countess of chester hospital and attempting to murder six more. thejudge, justice goss, delivered his sentencing and his remarks and i will bring you part of that again. lucy letby, on each of the seven offences — lucy letby, on each of the seven offences of— lucy letby, on each of the seven offences of murder— lucy letby, on each of the seven offences of murder and - lucy letby, on each of the seven offences of murder and these . lucy letby, on each of the seven i offences of murder and these seven offences— offences of murder and these seven offences of— offences of murder and these seven offences of attempted _ offences of murder and these seven offences of attempted murder, - offences of murder and these seven offences of attempted murder, i- offences of attempted murder, i sentence — offences of attempted murder, i sentence you _ offences of attempted murder, i sentence you to _ offences of attempted murder, i sentence you to imprisonment l offences of attempted murder, ii sentence you to imprisonment for life. sentence you to imprisonment for life because _ sentence you to imprisonment for life. because the _ sentence you to imprisonment for life. because the seriousness- sentence you to imprisonment for life. because the seriousness of. life. because the seriousness of your— life. because the seriousness of your offences _ life. because the seriousness of your offences is _ life. because the seriousness of your offences is exceptionally. life. because the seriousness of. your offences is exceptionally high, i your offences is exceptionally high, i direct— your offences is exceptionally high, i direct that — your offences is exceptionally high, i direct that the _ your offences is exceptionally high, i direct that the early _ your offences is exceptionally high, i direct that the early release - i direct that the early release provisions— i direct that the early release provisions do— i direct that the early release provisions do not _ i direct that the early release provisions do not apply. - i direct that the early release provisions do not apply. thei i direct that the early release - provisions do not apply. the order of the _ provisions do not apply. the order of the court — provisions do not apply. the order of the court therefore _ provisions do not apply. the order of the court therefore is _ provisions do not apply. the order of the court therefore is a - provisions do not apply. the order of the court therefore is a whole l of the court therefore is a whole life or _ of the court therefore is a whole life or death _ of the court therefore is a whole life or death. on _ of the court therefore is a whole life or death. on each _ of the court therefore is a whole life or death. on each and - of the court therefore is a whole life or death. on each and everyj life or death. on each and every offence~ — life or death. on each and every offence~ and _ life or death. on each and every offence. and you _ life or death. on each and every offence. and you will— life or death. on each and every offence. and you will spend - life or death. on each and every offence. and you will spend the | life or death. on each and every- offence. and you will spend the rest offence. and you will spend the rest of your— offence. and you will spend the rest of your life — offence. and you will spend the rest of your life in — offence. and you will spend the rest of your life in prison. _ of your life in prison. mr— of your life in prison. mrjustice _ of your life in prison. mrjustice goss- of your life in prison. - mrjustice goss explaining of your life in prison. _ mrjustice goss explaining once again the sentence he handed down to lucy letby today at manchester crown court. he explained clearly that she will spend the rest of her life in prison. she did not appear to hear those sentencing remarks or any of the victim impact statements delivered, often so emotively by parents, all barristers in court this morning, and we are receiving reaction to that sentencing will stop the crown prosecution service, their senior prosecutor says today's sentence means lucy letby will never again be able to inflict the suffering she did while working as a neonatal nurse. my thoughts remain with the families of the victims who demonstrated enormous strength in the face of extraordinary suffering. i hope the trial has brought answers that have long eluded them. also the justice secretary, alex chalke mp, tweeted to say lucy letby is not just a murderer but a coward whose failure to face victim' families and hear their impact statements and society's condemnation is the final insult. we are looking to change the law so offenders can be compelled to attend sentencing hearings. my colleague has spent time in manchester following this case. i think it was also going to be the case that when lucy letby refused to appear in court for the verdict and sentencing, there would be public outrage she was not there to face families after they have suffered so much. �* ., . , . ., much. anger from families and from other people. _ much. anger from families and from other people, organisations - much. anger from families and from other people, organisations across l other people, organisations across the country, obviously, they saw the prison van. we showed the images of her arriving in manchester at crown court but not going into the dock. and we heard also that she was not in court for some of the verdicts. it has been almost ten months of this trial. she was in court 11; days when she gave evidence. the parents of the babies will have seen her then and as we heard from victim statements, impact statements read out in court earlier, that was traumatic enough in itself, having to see this nurse, who seemingly cared for their babies, but was responsible for their murder, attempted murder, seeing them in court, distressing. it has been an emotional day in court, hearing from the families, the public gallery packed with people crying. and some of the jury were there, they do not have to be in court today but some of them clearly wanted to be there to see this sentencing from the judge. there have been strong words from justice goss. he said when she killed seven babies and attempted to killed seven babies and attempted to kill six others, he talked about how some were just a day old, a few days old, and were extremely vulnerable and talked about how the nature and number of these murders and attempted murders, offences of such exceptional seriousness, which is why he handed down the full life sentence. he talked about a crawl, calculated, cynical campaign of child murder of the smallest and most vulnerable knowing she was causing significant suffering and would cause untold mental suffering. he talked about how she had shown no remorse and how she had coldly denied responsibility when she gave evidence. forthose 11; denied responsibility when she gave evidence. for those 11; days. and said there were no mitigating factors. this sentence is what the prosecution asked for, and as you say, we have heard from the crown prosecution service saying this means that letby will never again be able to inflict suffering she did while working as a neonatal nurse and she has rightly been brought to justice by the courts, my thoughts remain with the families of victims who have demonstrated strength in the face of extraordinary suffering and i hope the trial has brought answers that long eluded them. also in the victim impact statements we talked about, people talked about how they raised concerns and concerns about how they were not followed through, they did not get support from hospital, so many questions raised through the trial about how the concerns were raised and also from consultants, and when they raised concerns, and whether they raised concerns, and whether they will listen to. and we know there will be a government inquiry into the handling of this case. ten months of this trial. parents have had to sit through. but it has been many years for then waiting for today and finally they have the sentencing, the full life term. she will never leave prison. he said early release provisions do not apply and she will spend the rest of her life in prison. you are in court today and you will probably have seen the families arriving. we have kept them anonymous. they were granted anonymity throughout. we have heard from some of them. we did interviews with some of them talking about what happened and how their lives will never be the same, they will never get over this. the sentence today is some form of ending to the suffering they have gone through such a long time, but it will not change the fact that seven families will not have their babies back. you were saying about some of the detail we heard this morning from the victim impact statements. before we talk about that, some of this is very difficult to listen to, and in some cases it might be triggering to listen to. if you need advice, support, somebody to talk to, online resources, look at the bbc news app and website. and look for the action liner. you will find lots of groups and organisations that might be able to give you help and support —— action line. i mention that before talking about the victim impact statements. some of those details. and those that have really stuck in the mind is where parents were talking about the deaths of babies and notjust the role lucy letby had in murdering those babies but also the role as a nurse she had in the final moments of their lives and their deaths. one mother was talking in court about how she wore around her neck her baby's hand and footprints, knowing that lucy letby, who murdered her baby, had physically taken those hand and footprints in hospital as part of anybody who has lost a baby in hospital will know, so often memory boxes are put together, small things parents can have to remind them of those babies they have lost. hand and footprints are a vital part and to know lucy letby took those prints and in the case of another parent talking about how she had bathed her baby and dressed her baby in the gown they would be buried in. all of these details, particularly after ten months of evidence, they bring it home very poignantly that this has been an incredible ordealfor so many parents. it is unimaginable what they have been through. m50 many parents. it is unimaginable what they have been through. also we heard about how— what they have been through. also we heard about how she _ what they have been through. also we heard about how she had _ what they have been through. also we heard about how she had searched - heard about how she had searched some of the families on facebook and we heard in the trial about how she sent a family a condolence card. there was a photo of the card found on her phone. almost like some sort of reminderfor her of on her phone. almost like some sort of reminder for her of what had happened. thejudge of reminder for her of what had happened. the judge talked about the notes she kept, handovers from her time on the unit. these were found at her home when the police searched it. we heard thejudge mentioned notes found at home, handwritten notes found at home, handwritten notes found at home, handwritten notes found with her school talking about the world would be better off without me, i am evil, i did this. and the word hate written in capital letters. so many documents found, thousands of pages, hundreds of pages of notes were found at her property. thejudge pages of notes were found at her property. the judge talked about how big this impact will be in terms of its impact on the families. i would mention thejury who its impact on the families. i would mention the jury who have been there throughout the last ten months at manchester crown court and the harrowing detail they have sat through and how meticulous they were in the way they went through all of that evidence. they were given ipads on the first day because they were going to be given so many thousands of pages of evidence. they had so much to sift through. you got the sense they were taking so much time to meticulously go through it. we can report now the verdicts came in over a period of a few days were two initially. they then came back with further ones and further ones and thejudge said if further ones and further ones and the judge said if you have further ones and further ones and thejudge said if you have more time, do you think you can reach a conclusion? you got the sense they were going through every count meticulously to get to the point where they reached their verdict. a word to them and tribute to the jury. some in court today to see this. forwhat jury. some in court today to see this. for what they have sat through and the manyjournalists, some bbc colleagues have been in court pretty much every day, having to listen to what happened throughout the case. and also you talk about their families. some of the evidence they heard in court, it will have been the first time they heard the actual details of what happened to their children. they would not have had all details before the trial. such a long period. ten months. i hope some of them can feel some sort of closure today with this full life sentence handed down.- closure today with this full life sentence handed down. thank you. lucy gray. who _ sentence handed down. thank you. lucy gray, who has also _ sentence handed down. thank you. lucy gray, who has also been - lucy gray, who has also been involved in covering this trial at manchester crown court over the past ten months. i was telling you about the bbc action line. it is worth looking at if you are finding some of the details of what you have seen and heard in the case and also in the last days. the victim impact statements will be difficult to listen to particularly if they trigger memories for you, experiences of your own, perhaps, particularly in terms baby loss. you can go to the bbc news website... look for action line and you will find a list of organisations that could give you some time support in person or maybe resources, something to read. all of those things gathered together on the bbc action line. we have been bringing reaction to that sentence. the whole life sentence on each conviction. she will spend the rest of her life in prison. she was not in court to hear the verdict. she was in the courtroom. but she was not in the dock to hear the remarks being passed. that is something the prime minister was asked about earlier today. the first thing is to extend my sympathy to everyone affected by this. like everyone reading about this, it is shocking and harrowing. i think it is cowardly people who commit such horrendous crimes do not faze their victims and hear first—hand the impact they had on them and theirfamilies first—hand the impact they had on them and their families and loved ones. ~ . . them and their families and loved ones, ~ ., , ., ones. we have been looking at chanauin ones. we have been looking at changing the — ones. we have been looking at changing the law— ones. we have been looking at changing the law to _ ones. we have been looking at changing the law to make - ones. we have been looking at changing the law to make sure j ones. we have been looking at - changing the law to make sure that happens _ changing the law to make sure that happens. that is something we will ttring _ happens. that is something we will bring forward in due course. should hosital bring forward in due course. should hospital managers _ bring forward in due course. should hospital managers be _ bring forward in due course. should hospital managers be as _ bring forward in due course. should. hospital managers be as accountable as doctors and nurses? iterate hospital managers be as accountable as doctors and nurses?— as doctors and nurses? we are settin: as doctors and nurses? we are setting pp _ as doctors and nurses? we are setting up an _ as doctors and nurses? we are setting up an inquiry _ as doctors and nurses? we are setting up an inquiry that - as doctors and nurses? we are setting up an inquiry that will. as doctors and nurses? we are i setting up an inquiry that will look into everything that happened in this case — into everything that happened in this case and it is important the inquiry— this case and it is important the inquiry gets the answers families need, _ inquiry gets the answers families need, ensures we learn lessons from what happened, is conducted transparently and happens as quickly as possible. should we have a judge led statutory inquiry? i think the important thing for the inquiry to do is make sure that families get the answer that they need. that it is possible for us to learn the lessons from what happened. everything conducted transparently, and to happen as quickly as possible. those are the objectives that we want for the inquiry and we will make sure it is setup to deliver on those aims. that is the prime minister rishi sunak speaking this morning. before that sentence was handed down to lucy letby. she will serve the rest of her life in prison. thejudge mr justice goss explained he will give a whole life sentence in each of the counts that she was convicted of, the murders of seven babies and the attempted murders of six more. we will bring you continuing reaction to that sentence here on the pressure police have just released a statement from the deputy senior investigating detective chief inspector nicola evans, she says today lucy letby has been handed a whole life further, the sentence reflects the true scale and gravity of her horrific crimes and ensures the calculated individual is behind bars for a very long time. nothing it says will bring back the bbc died, ortake it says will bring back the bbc died, or take away the pain and suffering experienced by all the families over the