Former nurse Lucy Letby faces the rest of her life in prison for the murder of seven babies and attempted murder of six others. The judge sentenced the 33-year-old in Manchester to the maximum sentence – life imprisonment.
Unlike in Germany, the convicts are never released again. “They acted in a way that went completely against normal human instincts to nurture and care for babies,” he said. It was a “gross breach of trust”.
Letby is one of only four women in Britain to be sentenced to the maximum sentence known as the “whole life order”. Two are in custody, the third died behind bars.
A jury convicted the former nurse on Friday of multiple murders and attempted murders. In two cases she was acquitted, in two others the jury could not agree on a decision. Letby consistently maintained her innocence and refused to attend the sentencing hearing. It is the deadliest series of baby murders in recent British history.