Murderers like Lucy Letby should be forced to appear in court to witness the impact of their crimes

Editorial: The trial lasted 10 months. Letby gave evidence herself for several weeks. That, having been convicted, she has the power to choose not to listen to what her victims’ families have to say does not feel like natural justice

Lucy Letby was sentenced in her absence (PA)

The events at Manchester Crown Court on Monday morning are quite possibly the most harrowing ever to have occurred in a UK courtroom. News reporters have spoken of having to type through tears.

The families of Lucy Letby’s victims read personal statements, describing the unimaginable horror and misery she inflicted on them. And not just on them. In his sentencing remarks, Mr Justice Goss was also unsparing about the horror and misery she inflicted on her victims, the babies who suffered “acute pain” while fighting to stay alive.

There is, understandably, considerable public outcry that Letby was not there herself. She is certainly not the first despicable person to refuse to face up to the magnitude of her crimes. The murderer of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt Korbel, Thomas Cashman, also refused to attend his sentencing.