Child serial killer Lucy Letby found unfit to practise nursing
The 33-year-old was sentenced to 14 whole-life orders in August.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Child serial killer Lucy Letby has been found unfit to practise at a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) hearing, as she maintains her innocence in respect of her convictions.
The 33-year-old was sentenced in August to 14 whole-life orders after being convicted of murdering seven babies and trying to murder six others, with two bids on one victim.
The fitness to practise panel will go on to decide whether to strike her from the nursing register, a move they have heard Letby does not resist despite her protestation of innocence.
The harm that she caused is so egregious, the lack of insight and remorse that she demonstrated so striking, that the finding of impairment is necessary
Her crimes occurred on the Countess of Chester Hospital’s neonatal unit, where she worked between June 2015 and June 2016.
At a hearing in east London, chair Bernard Herdan said the panel was satisfied that Letby caused harm to patients, brought the profession into disrepute and breached fundamental tenets of the profession, before announcing they find her fitness to practise is impaired.
The finding follows submissions from Christopher Scott, for the NMC, in which he said: “The harm that she caused is so egregious, the lack of insight and remorse that she demonstrated so striking, that the finding of impairment is necessary.”
He quoted Mr Justice Goss’s sentencing remarks – highlighting the judge saying “this was a cruel, calculated and cynical campaign of child murder” that involved “a deep malevolence bordering on sadism” for which Letby showed “no remorse”.
Following the finding, Mr Scott invited the panel to strike Letby off the nursing register.
He said: “The NMC’s position is that the registrant’s convictions for murder and attempted murder are so serious – indeed it is hard, perhaps unbearable, to conceive of a case that is more serious – requiring a striking off order.”
He asked the panel to “robustly and quickly” disregard lesser sanctions which would be “insufficient” to protect the public, and maintain professional standards and public confidence.
The barrister also applied for an interim suspension order against Letby for 18 months to cover a potential appeal period.
Mr Scott earlier told the panel that Letby faces 14 charges, brought by the council, which reflect her criminal convictions.
He said it is “a matter of legal fact” that Letby was convicted of seven counts each of murder and attempted murder at Manchester Crown Court in August.
I maintain my innocence in respect of all the convictions
The panel was told Letby was asked in a “tick-box exercise” if she accepts the NMC charges.
She ticked “yes” to each of the charges, but added: “I do not wish to take part or be present at the hearing. I do not resist the application to strike me off the nursing register.
“I accept the fact of the convictions. However, I do not accept that I am guilty of any of the allegations.
“I maintain my innocence in respect of all of the convictions.
“These convictions are now the subject of an appeal.”
The panel found the fact of Letby’s convictions was proven.
Letby, of Hereford, was told of the hearing, but did not attend and was not represented.
The panel decided to proceed in her absence.
She faces a retrial next June for one count of attempted murder.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.