Nurse Lucy Letby ‘wrote sympathy card to parents of baby she murdered’

Letby denies murdering seven babies and attempting to murder 10 others at the Countess of Chester Hospital

The sympathy card was shown to the jury (PA)

Nurse Lucy Letby wrote a sympathy card to the grieving parents of a baby girl she is said to have murdered, her trial heard.

The defendant took a photograph on her mobile phone of the card ahead of the youngster’s funeral.

Letby, 33, is accused of killing the premature-born infant, known as Child I, in the early hours of October 23 2015, which the Crown say was the fourth attempt to take her life.

On Thursday, Manchester Crown Court was told Letby captured a photograph of the card on the morning of November 10 after she finished a night shift – hours before Child I’s funeral.

She wrote: “There are no words to make this time any easier.

(PA)

“It was a real priviledge (sic) to care for (Child I) and get to know you as a family – a family who always put (Child I) first and did everything possible for her,” the note continued.

“She will always be a part of your lives and we will never forget her. Thinking of you today and always – sorry I cannot be there to say goodbye.

“Lots of love Lucy x”

The card contained the printed message: “Your loved one will be remembered with many smiles.”

Court sketch of Letby (R), who is on trial at Manchester Crown Court (PA Wire)

Opening the prosecution case in October, Nick Johnson KC said the defendant later told detectives it was “not normal” for a nurse to send such a card.

She added it was the only time she had done it but it was “not often the nurses got to know a family as well”, he told the court.

Letby, originally from Hereford, denies murdering seven babies and attempting to murder 10 others at the Countess of Chester Hospital’s neo-natal unit between June 2015 and June 2016.