LONDON: The families of the babies killed by the British nurse Lucy Letby spoke of their search for answers and "extreme hurt, anger and distress" after she was found guilty of murdering seven newborns and the attempted murders of six others.
Letby, who was in her 20s at the time of the murders, is the most prolific child serial killer in modern British history.
Her case has captivated Britain after she was put on trial for the killings and attempted murders in the neonatal unit of a hospital in northwest England where she worked.
Following her conviction at a court in Manchester in northern England on Friday, the families released a joint statement saying they would never truly know why this had happened.
"To lose a baby is a heartbreaking experience that no parent should have to go through," they said. "But to lose a baby or have a baby harmed in these circumstances is unimaginable."
The families cannot be named for legal reasons. The parents of twin boys who Letby tried to murder revealed the turmoil that they had been through, going from the euphoria of the birth to the horror of seeing staff fight to keep their children alive.
They did not realise what had happened until the police contacted them about two years later.
"It didn't have to be that many," the father told Sky News, asking why hospital bosses had not acted sooner to stop more babies from being attacked. He said he felt "very let down" by the hospital.
Letby was present at the birth of the two boys and the parents said they were ecstatic at being first-time parents.
But the mother realised something was wrong when another nurse came into her room, saying she needed to come downstairs. The father said he remembered seeing the doctors pumping his child's heart "like a rag doll".
"I was just full of tears," he said. "We didn't know what was going on." He remembered how other nurses looked "very worried and panicked" while Letby was standing "very calm and cool".
Both the twins survived, but one suffered some brain damage and his parents worry it might impact him in the future.
The boys' father said he is now a "changed person" and suffers sleepless nights and depression.
The government has ordered an independent inquiry, including how concerns raised by clinicians were dealt with.
Reuters
Mon Aug 21 2023
A view of Lucy Letby, who was on trial at Manchester Crown Court charged with the murder of seven babies, being taken in custody by police, in Chester, Britain, in this screengrab. - Cheshire Constabulary/via REUTERS
ACL2: Faisal Halim gembira raih minit perlawanan paling lama sejak serangan asid
Faisal Halim berbesar hati selepas membuat debut ketika membantu Gergasi Merah meraih kemenangan pertama dalam kempen ACL2 2024/25, semalam.
Kematian Orang Asli dalam tahanan: Polis teruskan siasatan pelbagai sudut
Polis akan meneruskan siasatan kematian seorang lelaki Orang Asli berusia 25 tahun ketika dalam tahanan pada 4 Mei lalu.
Teka-teki terjawab, Nabila Razali hamil anak sulung
Penyanyi dan pelakon Nabila Razali umum sedang hamil anak sulung dan dijangka bersalin pada Januari tahun depan.
Atlet menembak sensasi Korea Selatan ditawar jadi 'pembunuh upahan'
Atlet menembak Korea Selatan Kim Ye-ji ditawar menjadi 'pembunuh upahan' selepas penampilan uniknya mendapat perhatian seluruh dunia.
MQSS medan lahirkan generasi celik al-Quran - KPM
Kemahiran yang ditonjolkan dalam MQSS bukan bersifat pertandingan atau persaingan mencari seorang juara.
Bursa Malaysia dibuka rendah
Bursa Malaysia dibuka rendah hari ini susut daripada kenaikan semalam berikutan aktiviti pengambilan untung dalam saham wajaran tinggi.
Liga Europa: Tottenham kekal rentak kemenangan
Tiga mata skuad bimbingan Ange Postecoglou dijana Pape Sarr dan Brennan Johnson pada setiap babak menundukkan anak buah Pascal Jansen.
Mangsa banjir di PPS Perak bertambah, beberapa tempat di Selangor, Kedah dinaiki air
Di Selangor, 1,968 individu daripada 480 keluarga terjejas akibat banjir dipindahkan ke enam PPS yang dibuka pagi ini.
AS sahkan kes baharu selesema burung H5 melibatkan manusia di California
Tiada kaitan ditemukan antara kedua-dua kes setakat ini, menandakan ia kejadian berasingan penularan virus dari haiwan kepada manusia.
Pegawai bank mengaku tidak bersalah dua tuduhan gangguan seksual
Rosman Jamaluddin, 52 tahun, mengaku tidak bersalah selepas pertuduhan terhadapnya dibacakan di hadapan Majistret S Punitha.
Britain: Jururawat didapati bersalah bunuh 7 bayi di hospital
Seorang jururawat Lucy Letby didapati bersalah membunuh tujuh bayi dalam unit neonatal ketika bekerja di Hospital Countess of Chester di barat laut England.