'Cowardly' Lucy Letby to be handed victim impact statements in jail after refusing to appear in court
21.08.2023 - 21:13
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Killer nurse Lucy Letby is to be handed the victim impact statements that were read out during sentencing after refusing to appear in court on Monday (August 21).
The 33-year-old did not appear in the dock at Manchester Crown Court as she was given a whole-life order after being convicted of the murders of seven babies and the attempted murders of six more.
The judge, Mr Justice Goss, ordered that she be sent a transcript of his sentencing remarks and copies of the statements read out by the families of her victims.
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He said: “The defendant, Lucy Letby, has refused to attend court for this sentence hearing. Accordingly, I have to sentence her in her absence.
“I shall deliver the sentencing remarks as if she was present to hear them. And I direct that she is provided with a transcript of my remarks and copies of the victim personal statements read to the court.”
The statement from the mother of twin boys Child E and Child F, who Letby was convicted of murdering and attempting to murder respectively, said her absence was 'one final act of wickedness'.
She told the court: “Even in these final days of the trial she has tried to control things, the disrespect she has shown the families and the court show what type of person she is. We have attended court day in and day out, yet she decides she has had enough and stays in her cell – just one final act of wickedness from a coward.”
Rishi Sunak branded the serial child murderer 'cowardly' for refusing to appear for sentencing. The Prime Minister said the Government was looking at changing the law so criminals could be compelled to attend sentencing hearings.
Letby joins a string of