Lucy Letby: Nurse's messages after baby deaths read to jury

Nurse Lucy Letby told a colleague that two baby brothers she allegedly murdered looked "peaceful" together in a cot after their deaths, a jury has been told.

Ms Letby is accused of administering fatal doses of air to both infants at the Countess of Chester Hospital.

The nurse is charged with murdering seven babies and attempting to murder 10 others between 2015 and 2016.

The 33-year-old, originally from Hereford, denies all the charges.

Manchester Crown Court heard that the boys, referred to as Child O and Child P, died within 24 hours of each other after they were born in "good condition" as part of a set of triplets in June 2016.

Child O was pronounced dead at 17:47 BST and the following day Child P died at 16:00 after numerous collapses that required resuscitation and multiple shots of adrenaline.

A nursing note, recorded by Ms Letby following Child P's death, stated: "I have dressed [Child P] at [the parents'] request and taken photos of [Child P] and [Child O] together. Support given to parents and extended family."

Jurors were also told how Ms Letby received a needle prick to her finger during the final resuscitation attempt.

Routine blood checks were required at the hospital A&E department where Ms Letby later fainted.

She was later offered a lift home by a concerned doctor who friends had previously teased her about flirting with.

Facebook message exchanges between the pair were read out to the jury.

The doctor, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, asked Ms Letby: "Have you been seen yet?"

Ms Letby replied: "Yes just got back. I made a fool of myself whilst there."

The doctor, who was also involved in the resuscitation efforts, said: "I asked them to be quick for you. How did you make a fool of yourself?"

Ms Letby responded: "They said someone had asked for me to been seen asap and they knew what had happened today.

"Everyone talking about it whilst I was there. I fainted."

The doctor then offered Ms Letby a lift home.

After she was dropped off, Ms Letby messaged him: "Thank you for the lift and for talking to A&E."

The doctor said: "I can't have you walking back in the dark after a rubbish day, mini needlestick and an A&E faint."

Ms Letby later replied: "I keep thinking of them [Child O and Child P] both in the cot together. So peaceful yet beyond words how awful it is.

"So sad. The family thanked me when I took [Child P] in dressed. And I know age doesn't make it any easier/harder but such a lot to go through at a young age."

The doctor said: "I don't know how it would be possible to get over losing a child, let alone 2."

Ms Letby responded with a crying emoji and wrote: "Think my head may explode..."

Commenting on the deaths in a message to another colleague, who also cannot be named, Ms Letby said: "Life is too sad."

The jury later heard from another doctor, who cannot be named for legal reasons, who led efforts to save Child P.

The court heard that at 15:14 Child P suffered a cardiac arrest and chest compressions were commenced, with breathing support given and four doses of adrenaline administered.

After 45 minutes, the doctor said the decision was taken, in conjunction with Child P's family, to stop resuscitation.

Prosecutor Simon Driver asked the medic if he could "understand the course [Child P's] life took" in the hours before his death.

The doctor responded: "No."

The trial continues.

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