Lucy Letby found death of twin boy in her care ‘very traumatic’

Letby, 33, is said to have murdered the infant, Child E, who was in her care during a night shift at the Countess of Chester Hospital’s neo-natal unit in August 2015.

The prosecution says the defendant also attempted to kill his brother, Child F, by intentionally poisoning him with insulin.

When previously giving evidence at Manchester Crown Court, the twins’ mother said Child E was screaming and bleeding from around his mouth when she visited the unit on the evening of August 4.

Her barrister, Ben Myers KC, asked Letby, who was giving evidence on Friday, May 5: “Was he screaming at that time?”

Letby said: “No, he was unsettled at some points but he was not screaming.”

Mr Myers said: “Did (Child E) have blood around his mouth when his mum came down? ”

Letby said: “Not from my recollection, no.”

Mr Myers said: “Do you recall any conversation about a tube irritating (Child E’s) throat?”

“No,” said Letby.

Mr Myers asked: “Did you, or anybody, send her away – told her to go?”

Letby said: “’No, that’s not something we would do on the unit. Parents are welcome 24/7.”

The court has heard Child E’s mother timed the visit at 9pm but Letby said she noted it was 10pm.

In her notes Letby referenced that Child E “began to decline” from 11.40pm.

Letby told the jury: “So (Child E’s) stomach was becoming more and more distended. There was a red horizontal banding across his abdomen.

“I wondered if he was bleeding into his abdomen.”

An “acute deterioration” took place at 12.36am and resuscitation began, the court was told.

Letby said Child E was “actively bleeding from this point” back up his feeding tube.

Mr Myers said: “As events moved on, did (Child E) bleed any more than that?”

Her voice breaking, Letby replied: “Yes he was bleeding from his mouth and nose.”

Mr Myers said: “Did you assist during resuscitation?”

“Yes,” said Letby.

Mr Myers said: “Were his parents there?”

Letby replied: “Yes.”

Mr Myers said: “Was this something you wanted to happen?”

“No,” said Letby.

Mr Myers went on: “Had you done something to make this happen?”

Letby said: “No.”

Letby cried as she told the court how she bathed Child E after his death, as part of routine bereavement care for families.

She also helped take foot and hand prints, dressed him and took photographs at the parents’ request.

Letby also took photographs of two small teddy bears given to each twin to go in a memory box, she said.

Mr Myers asked: “Were they staged in any way?”

“No,” said Letby.

Mr Myers said: How did you feel about what happened to (Child E?)”

Letby said: “I found (Child E’s) death very traumatic. I had never seen a baby bleed in that way before.”

Letby denies attempting to murder Child F on the following night shift.

Mr Myers said: “Did you administer insulin to Child F?”

“No,” said Letby.

Mr Myers said: “Did you interfere with any of the TPN (nutrient) bags so that could happen?”

Letby said: “No, I did not.”

Mr Myers said: “If (Child F) did receive insulin he should not have received, does that have anything to do with you?”

Letby said: “No it doesn’t.”

The defendant continued to care for him in the days that followed before Child F was discharged on August 14, the court heard.

Mr Myers asked: “Did you do anything to try to finish off something that you had started?”

“No,” said Letby.

Mr Myers said: “Did you do anything in that period to hurt Child F?”

“No,” repeated Letby.

Mr Myers said: “What was your aim?”

Letby replied: “To care for him, to get him to go home.”

Letby denies murdering seven babies and attempting to murder 10 others.

The trial continues on Thursday, May 11.