Lucy Letby's friends are standing by her and refuse to believe she's guilty
One of Lucy Letby's childhood friends has gone on record in a TV interview to stress she still stands by the killer.
Dawn Howe refuses to accept her school friend's guilt - and vows never to agree with the jury's decision after 22 days of deliberation. But Letby is Britain's most prolific child killer and was yesterday sentenced to an unprecedented 14 whole life orders - meaning she will die in prison.
The 33-year-old woman displayed "malevolence bordering on sadism" following a "cruel, calculated and cynical campaign of child murder," a judge at Manchester Crown Court said.
Ms Howe though, who grew up with Letby in Hereford, said in a interview with BBC's Panorama: "Unless Lucy turned around and said 'I'm guilty', I will never believe that she's guilty."
The nurse poses with a friend in a picture shared online (Lucy Letby/ Cavendish Press)
Letby, 33, was found guilty of seven counts of murder (Lucy Letby/ Cavendish Press)Seemingly choosing to speak on behalf of a group of friends, Ms Howe added: "We know she couldn't have done anything that she's accused of, so without a doubt, we stand by her. I grew up with Lucy and not a single thing that I've ever seen or witnessed of Lucy would let me for a moment believe she is capable of the thing's she's accused of.
Lucy Letby guilty of murdering 7 babies as Angel of Death faces life sentence
"It is the most out-of-character accusation that you could ever put against Lucy. Think of your most kind gentle soft friend and think that they're being accused of harming babies." Ms Howe also called Letby "the kindest person I have ever known" in the interview.
Dawn Howe says Letby 'couldn't have done' the things she is accused of (BBC)Yet Letby tried to murder a baby girl who was born at the Countess of Chester Hospital, weighing barely more than 1lb on September 7, 2015. She tried again to murder the tiny girl days later by forcing air and milk into her system. Jurors were unable to reach a verdict at a third attempt on the same girl's life.
The defendant, originally from Hereford, is Britain's most prolific child killer (Lucy Letby/ Cavendish Press)She was, though, found her guilty of seven counts of murder and six counts of attempted murder. The nurse deliberately harmed the infants in various ways, including by injecting air intravenously and administering air and/or milk into the stomach via nasogastric tubes. The prosecution also revealed that she added insulin as a poison to intravenous feeds, interfered with breathing tubes, and inflicted trauma in some cases.
Letby denied all the allegations as she gave evidence in the witness box for 14 days during the trial, which began last October. She denied doing anything harmful to any child and that the sudden collapses and deaths could have been due to natural causes, or for some unascertained reason, or from failure by others to provide appropriate care.
Letby was sentenced yesterday - despite not turning up (PA)
The nurse worked in the neonatal unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital (MEN MEDIA)She refused to appear in court for her sentencing, during which she was branded "evil" and a "coward" by her victims' parents, on Monday afternoon.
Judge Mr Justice Goss said he'd pass sentence at Manchester Crown Court as if she were present before him, and she'll receive a copy of his address anyway.
He said: "There was premeditation, calculation and cunning in your actions. Loving parents have been robbed of their cherished children. You have caused deep psychological trauma.
"You acted in a way that was completely contrary to the normal human instincts of nurturing and caring for babies and in gross breach of the trust that all citizens place in those who work in the medical and caring professions."
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