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Lucy Letby trial told poisoner was at work at baby deaths hospital Nurse Lucy Letby poisoned babies with insulin, trial told
(32 minutes later)
Ms Letby, of Hereford, was working at the Countess of Chester Hospital's neonatal unit when the deaths happenedMs Letby, of Hereford, was working at the Countess of Chester Hospital's neonatal unit when the deaths happened
A "poisoner was at work" at a hospital where there was a "significant rise" in the number of healthy babies dying, a court heard. A "poisoner was at work" at a hospital where there was a "significant rise" in the number of healthy babies dying, a court has heard.
Lucy Letby is accused of murdering five baby boys and two girls, and the attempted murder of a further 10 babies at Countess of Chester hospital. Lucy Letby has been accused of murdering five baby boys and two girls, and attempting to murder of 10 other babies at Countess of Chester hospital.
Nick Johnson KC, prosecuting, described her as a "constant malevolent presence" at the neonatal unit. Nick Johnson KC, prosecuting, said she was a "constant malevolent presence" in the hospital's neonatal unit.
Ms Letby, 32, of Hereford, denies 22 charges at Manchester Crown Court.Ms Letby, 32, of Hereford, denies 22 charges at Manchester Crown Court.
Opening the prosecution case, Nick Johnson KC said the Countess of Chester Hospital was a "busy general hospital" which included a neo-natal unit that cared for premature and sick babies. Opening the prosecution case, Mr Johnson said the Chester institution was a "busy general hospital... like so many others in the UK".
"It is a hospital like so many others in the UK but unlike many other hospitals in the UK, and unlike many other neo-natal units in the UK, within the neo-natal unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital a poisoner was at work," he said. However, he said that "unlike many other hospitals... within the neo-natal unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital, a poisoner was at work".
"Prior to January 2015, the statistics for the mortality of babies in the neo-natal unit at the Countess of Chester were comparable to other like units. "Prior to January 2015, the statistics for the mortality of babies in the neo-natal unit at the Countess of Chester were comparable to other like units," he said.
"However, over the next 18 months or so there was a significant rise in the number of babies who were dying and in the number of serious catastrophic collapses," he told the court. "However, over the next 18 months or so, there was a significant rise in the number of babies who were dying and in the number of serious catastrophic collapses."
Lucy Letby appeared in the dock at Manchester Crown CourtLucy Letby appeared in the dock at Manchester Crown Court
The rises were noticed by hospital consultants who "searched for a cause". He said the increases were noticed by hospital consultants, who were concerned that "babies who were dying had deteriorated unexpectedly".
Mr Johnson added: "Having searched for a cause, which they were unable to find, the consultants noticed that the inexplicable collapses and deaths did have one common denominator. Medics also noted that babies who had collapsed "did not respond to appropriate and timely resuscitation" and that others "collapsed dramatically, but then, equally dramatically, recovered".
"The presence of one of the neo-natal nurses and that nurse was Lucy Letby." "Having searched for a cause, which they were unable to find, the consultants noticed that the inexplicable collapses and deaths did have one common denominator," he said.
The collapses and deaths of all the 17 children concerned were not "naturally-occurring tragedies," Mr Johnson said. "The presence of one of the neonatal nurses and that nurse was Lucy Letby."
"They were all the work, we say, of the woman in the dock, who we say was the constant malevolent presence when things took a turn for the worse for these 17 children." Mr Johnson told the court that as medics could not account for the collapses and deaths, police were called in and conducted a "painstaking review".
"That review suggests in the period between mid-2015 and the middle of 2016, somebody in the neonatal unit poisoned two children with insulin," he said.
"The prosecution say the only reasonable conclusion to be drawn from the evidence you will hear is that somebody poisoned these babies deliberately with insulin."
Nick Johnson KC, prosecuting, said Lucy Letby was the "one common denominator" that linked the deaths and collapses
He told the jury that both babies were poisoned within a few days of being born.
"There's a very restricted number of people who could have been the poisoner, because entry to a neonatal unit is closely restricted," he said.
"Lucy Letby was on duty when both were poisoned and we allege she was the poisoner," Mr Johnson said.
He said all the deaths and collapses were "no accident" and were not "naturally-occurring tragedies".
"Many of the events in this case occurred on the night shifts," he said.
"When upon Lucy Letby was moved on to day shifts, the collapses and deaths moved to the day shifts."
"They were all the work... of the woman in the dock, who, we say, was the constant malevolent presence when things took a turn for the worse for these 17 children," he said.
The jury has been told the trial may last up to six months.The jury has been told the trial may last up to six months.
The case continues. The case was adjourned until Monday.
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