Some consultants have dismissed Letby’s notes as “meaningless”
Private notes that performed a key position in convicting baby serial killer Lucy Letby had been reportedly written beneath the steering of counsellors to assist the nurse handle extreme stress. The handwritten notes, which included disturbing phrases equivalent to “I’m evil I did this” and “I killed them on objective as a result of I’m not ok to look after them,” had been used as proof throughout Letby’s trial.
Letby was convicted in 2023 for the homicide of seven infants and the tried homicide of six others, together with two makes an attempt on one baby. Earlier this yr, she proclaimed her innocence whereas receiving a further whole-life sentence for the tried homicide of one other child woman. She is at the moment serving 15 whole-life sentences for her crimes, dedicated on the Countess of Chester Hospital’s neonatal unit between June 2015 and June 2016.
Sources near the case advised The Guardian that the notes, labelled as confessions, had been produced as a part of a therapeutic course of throughout counselling classes. Letby was reportedly suggested to doc her troubling ideas and emotions to deal with intense stress. The notes, written after a few of her colleagues started suspecting her of homicide, included references to her household, pets, and coworkers, and described recurring suicidal ideas.
The prosecution constructed its case in opposition to Letby by highlighting incriminating phrases like “I’m evil I did this,” which had been repeatedly dropped at the jury’s consideration. Nonetheless, different phrases within the notes, which had been additionally thought of confessions, included statements like “Why me?”, “I have never achieved something mistaken,” and “Police investigation slander discrimination victimisation.”
Some consultants have dismissed Letby’s notes as “meaningless” and argued they held no worth as proof, particularly if written as a part of remedy. David Wilson, a professor of criminology at Birmingham Metropolis College, commented, “Many individuals say issues beneath stress that will suggest one factor however imply nothing, aside from reflecting their underlying stress.” He added that if the notes had been a part of remedy, they shouldn’t be thought of confessions.
Richard Curen, chair of the Forensic Psychotherapy Society, echoed this sentiment, stating that “doodling and journaling are methods to take management of 1’s ideas,” and don’t point out a confession. He famous that Letby’s response concerning the notes in court docket was “strong” and aligned along with her rationalization that she was expressing how she felt she was being perceived.
A public inquiry into Letby’s case is about to start subsequent week amid rising questions concerning the security of her conviction. Sources revealed that Kathryn de Beger, the pinnacle of occupational well being and wellbeing on the hospital the place Letby labored, had inspired her to put in writing down her emotions to deal with excessive stress. Letby’s Chester GP additionally suggested her to put in writing down ideas she discovered tough to course of.
Letby had obtained a number of counselling classes from Ms. de Beger, and her notes incessantly referenced her. Throughout her trial, Letby defined that she had all the time written issues down to assist perceive her emotions, describing the notes as random ideas. She questioned herself, questioning if she had unintentionally induced hurt by not being educated sufficient or by not being a ok nurse.
In her defence, it was argued that the notes mirrored her distressed mind-set after being accused of killing infants, quite than an request for forgiveness. Her defence barrister, Ben Myers KC, beforehand argued that the prosecution’s case was “riddled with guilt” and that all the pieces Letby stated or did was interpreted as proof of her guilt.
Regardless of this, no knowledgeable forensic psychologists had been known as to testify on how the notes needs to be interpreted. The Countess of Chester Hospital declined to touch upon the case whereas the inquiry and additional investigations are ongoing.