By Charlotte Webster-
Evil former neonatal nurse Lucy Letby (pictured)will stand trial again today, facing an allegation of attempting to murder a baby girl known as Child K in February 2016.
The retrial at Manchester Crown Court is expected to last up to four weeks.
In August 2023, Letby, 34, from Hereford, was convicted of the murders of seven babies and the attempted murders of six other infants during her tenure at the Countess of Chester Hospital.
These crimes took place between June 2015 and June 2016, shocking the nation and leading to intense scrutiny of the hospital’s practices and oversight.
The initial trial, which spanned 10 months, saw the jury unable to reach verdicts on six counts of attempted murder involving five children.
Letby had denied all the charges brought against her. While she was cleared of two counts of attempted murder during the first trial, the unresolved cases necessitated further legal proceedings.
Today’s retrial focuses on one of those unresolved counts – the alleged attempted murder of a child, whose identity has been anonymised for legal reasons. She is known as child K. The prosecution asserts that Letby, during her time at the Countess of Chester Hospital, attempted to kill the infant under her care.
The investigation into Letby’s actions at the hospital has been one of the most extensive and high-profile in recent UK history.
It revealed a disturbing pattern of harm inflicted on the most vulnerable patients in the neonatal unit, leading to her initial conviction.
The court proceedings have been under strict reporting restrictions to protect the identities of the children involved, both surviving and deceased.
The trial is not only a quest for justice for Child K and her family but also a crucial moment for the hospital and healthcare community as they continue to grapple with the implications of Letby’s previous convictions.
The outcome of this retrial will be closely watched, providing further closure for the families affected and contributing to the ongoing discussion about patient safety and trust in healthcare institutions.