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Lucy Letby trial: Murder-accused nurse 'cared deeply about babies' Lucy Letby trial: Nurse accused of murder 'cared deeply about babies'
(32 minutes later)
Lucy Letby is accused of murdering seven babies and trying to kill 10 othersLucy Letby is accused of murdering seven babies and trying to kill 10 others
A nurse accused of murdering babies on a neonatal ward "cared deeply" for those she had to look after, a court has heard.A nurse accused of murdering babies on a neonatal ward "cared deeply" for those she had to look after, a court has heard.
Lucy Letby is charged with killing seven babies and attempting to murder 10 others at Countess of Chester Hospital in 2015 and 2016.Lucy Letby is charged with killing seven babies and attempting to murder 10 others at Countess of Chester Hospital in 2015 and 2016.
Outlining Ms Letby's defence, Ben Myers KC, said she was a "dedicated nurse" and in "no way did she want to harm them".Outlining Ms Letby's defence, Ben Myers KC, said she was a "dedicated nurse" and in "no way did she want to harm them".
Ms Letby, 32, denies 22 charges.Ms Letby, 32, denies 22 charges.
Mr Myers told the court: "She trained hard to be a neonatal nurse and what she wanted was to care for babies she looked after.Mr Myers told the court: "She trained hard to be a neonatal nurse and what she wanted was to care for babies she looked after.
"The defence say she is not guilty of causing intentional harm to any baby or to killing any baby."The defence say she is not guilty of causing intentional harm to any baby or to killing any baby.
"She loved her job. She cared deeply about the babies and also cared for their families."She loved her job. She cared deeply about the babies and also cared for their families.
"She had a fulfilling life, had friends, a life outside work.""She had a fulfilling life, had friends, a life outside work."
Manchester Crown Court earlier heard how she had penned passages including "I am evil" and "I killed them on purpose because I'm not good enough to care for them".Manchester Crown Court earlier heard how she had penned passages including "I am evil" and "I killed them on purpose because I'm not good enough to care for them".
The notes were among other papers and post-it notes which also contained "many protestations of innocence", the jury was told.The notes were among other papers and post-it notes which also contained "many protestations of innocence", the jury was told.
Lucy Letby worked on the neonatal ward at the Countess of Chester HospitalLucy Letby worked on the neonatal ward at the Countess of Chester Hospital
Mr Myers said "anyone with an ounce of human understanding" would see the notes as "the anguished outpouring of a young woman in fear and despair when she realises the enormity of what is being said about her". But Mr Myers said "anyone with an ounce of human understanding" would see the notes as "the anguished outpouring of a young woman in fear and despair when she realises the enormity of what is being said about her".
He continued: "We recognise the sadness and the stress, and even the anger, that comes with allegations like these.He continued: "We recognise the sadness and the stress, and even the anger, that comes with allegations like these.
"I start on behalf of the defence by acknowledging how upsetting the allegations will be and acknowledging the very great loss and sadness of the families involved."I start on behalf of the defence by acknowledging how upsetting the allegations will be and acknowledging the very great loss and sadness of the families involved.
"Anything that I do, or say, during this trial is not intended to diminish that in any way.""Anything that I do, or say, during this trial is not intended to diminish that in any way."
But he told jurors it would be "staggeringly unfair" to convict a person without a word of evidence.But he told jurors it would be "staggeringly unfair" to convict a person without a word of evidence.
Nurse killed baby and sent parents card, jury toldNurse killed baby and sent parents card, jury told
Mum walked in on nurse killing baby, jury hearsMum walked in on nurse killing baby, jury hears
Nurse poisoned babies with insulin, trial toldNurse poisoned babies with insulin, trial told
Mr Myers said: "There is a real danger that people will simply accept the prosecution theory of guilt and that's all we have so far, ladies and gentlemen, a theory of guilt based firmly on coincidence - if anything can be based firmly on coincidence." He said there was "a real danger" people will simply accept the prosecution theory of guilt "based firmly on coincidence".
Pointing to Ms Letby, of Hereford, sitting in the dock, he told jurors: "It is important to be careful that blame is not heaped on that woman when there may be others who have made mistakes or a system which has failed."Pointing to Ms Letby, of Hereford, sitting in the dock, he told jurors: "It is important to be careful that blame is not heaped on that woman when there may be others who have made mistakes or a system which has failed."
In some cases, the defence said, no-one could say why a particular child deteriorated or died. In some cases, he said, no-one could say why a particular child deteriorated or died.
Lucy Letby's trial is continuing for a third dayLucy Letby's trial is continuing for a third day
Mr Myers said the jury had been shown Ms Letby's text messages, her Facebook searches on the families of babies she was alleged to have harmed and "pieces of paper" and mentioned "amateur psychology".Mr Myers said the jury had been shown Ms Letby's text messages, her Facebook searches on the families of babies she was alleged to have harmed and "pieces of paper" and mentioned "amateur psychology".
But he said the "foundation" of the case was medical evidence.But he said the "foundation" of the case was medical evidence.
Mr Myers said causes of a baby's deterioration or death were not always clear and there might be a number of reasons. Mr Myers said causes of a baby's deterioration or death were not always clear.
He added in this case the babies were "clinically fragile", and in conditions that could change "very swiftly and deteriorate very rapidly". He added in this case the babies were "clinically fragile" and in conditions that could change "very swiftly and deteriorate very rapidly".
Mr Myers said: "Ms Letby is adamant she's done nothing intentionally to harm these babies."Mr Myers said: "Ms Letby is adamant she's done nothing intentionally to harm these babies."
With Child A, the first murder count, Ms Letby was said to have injected air into the child, but he said the defence does not accept an air embolus, or air bubble, was the cause of death. With Child A, the first murder count, Ms Letby was said to have injected air into the child, but he said the defence does not accept an air embolus - or air bubble - was the cause of death.
Mr Myers said the "polite" way of describing the care of Child A on the unit was "sub-optimal".Mr Myers said the "polite" way of describing the care of Child A on the unit was "sub-optimal".
With Child B, who was Child A's twin sister, who Ms Letby is accused of trying to kill, it was a "good example" of the "assumption of guilt" and experts had been "influenced by the theory of harm".With Child B, who was Child A's twin sister, who Ms Letby is accused of trying to kill, it was a "good example" of the "assumption of guilt" and experts had been "influenced by the theory of harm".
Child C was a baby boy who Ms Letby is alleged to have murdered by injecting him with air through a nose tube. Mr Myers said Child C, who Ms Letby is also alleged to have murdered by injecting him with air, was a "very premature" baby, born at 30 weeks.
Mr Myers said Child C was a "very premature" baby, born at 30 weeks and weighing only 800g (1.7lbs).
He said such babies were vulnerable, especially to infection, and Child C should have been at a specialist children's hospital.He said such babies were vulnerable, especially to infection, and Child C should have been at a specialist children's hospital.
Lucy Letby denies the 22 charges against herLucy Letby denies the 22 charges against her
Mr Myers said the hospital failed to provide adequate care for Child D, who Ms Letby was alleged to have murdered with air.Mr Myers said the hospital failed to provide adequate care for Child D, who Ms Letby was alleged to have murdered with air.
He said it was "beyond dispute" Child D should have been given antibiotics hours before she was treated with them, and there was more evidence infection played a part in her death, rather than Ms Letby killing her with air. He said it was "beyond dispute" Child D should have been given antibiotics hours before she was treated with them, and there was more evidence infection played a part in her death.
He said the prosecution alleged Ms Letby injected Child E with a fatal amount of air and attacked him in front of his mother.
He said: "We say there is no clear explanation in his case for what happened.
"That being so, it is not right to rely on the assumption of guilt."
He next turned to allegations that Ms Letby attempted to murder Child F - the twin brother of Child E - and Child L by poisoning them with insulin.
The barrister said there was "nothing in fact" to establish this.
Child G, who Ms Letby is accused of attempting to murder on three occasions, was an "extremely premature" baby who was "high risk", he said.
The defence did not accept Ms Letby did anything to contribute to Child's G health problems in the neonatal unit.
Child H, who Ms Letby is alleged to have attacked twice, was another example of "sub-optimal care" by the hospital and "nothing to do with Lucy Letby", he said.
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