Lucy Letby, the nurse accused of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder ten others at the Countess of Chester Hospital, was texting about a doctor she allegedly had a crush on hours before attempting to kill a baby boy, a court has heard.
The 33-year-old denied the doctor was her boyfriend or that she was 'sweet' on him, as she gave evidence for a 12th day at Manchester Crown Court. In text messages read to the jury, Letby told a friend she had received a 'strange' message from the male colleague, who cannot be named. The friend replied with a suggestion that the doctor had asked Letby to 'go commando'. Letby insisted she did not know what the phrase meant when asked three times by prosecutor Nick Johnson KC.
Johnson KC said Letby had been 'texting non-stop' after starting her night shift at 8pm, five hours before she allegedly attempted to murder a newborn boy, Child N, by injecting him with air. The prosecutor asked about her relationship with the doctor, who was one of those caring for Child N. Letby denied she 'had a crush' on him, but texts from her friend said 'think he likes u too' and that he was 'as flirty as u'. Letby replied: 'Shut up … I don’t flirt with him!'
Letby is accused of attempting to murder Baby N three times, the first a little over 11 hours after he was born on 2 June 2015. She allegedly attempted to 'sabotage' him 12 days later by thrusting 'some foreign object' into his throat, using his haemophilia as cover. Johnson said the doctor was one of those who found Baby N's sudden life-threatening collapse concerning.
The prosecutor asked whether this colleague was one of those who Letby claims 'had it in for you', a reference to four consultant paediatricians who raised concerns about the nurse. Letby previously said she 'loved as a friend' the doctor. Johnson said the defendant had wanted to leave the courtroom in tears when the doctor gave evidence in February. Letby said she felt unwell, but Johnson countered: 'You didn’t like hearing your boyfriend giving evidence, did you?' Letby said 'that’s not fair' before her counsel intervened.
Earlier on Wednesday, Letby denied 'rooting in the confidential paper bin' for medical records relating to another alleged victim. She was asked why documents were found in a bag beneath her bed following her arrest in July 2018. She replied: 'Because I collect paper.' Johnson pointed out that police also recovered a paper shredder which Letby had used to destroy old bank statements. The defendant said 'household bills' were different to medical documents. 'You’re making this up as you go along, aren’t you?' asked the prosecutor. Letby replied: 'No.'
