“You will spend the rest of your life in prison”, summed up Judge James Goss. The 33 year old nurse “cold, calculating, cruel and tenacious” according to the indictment, was sentenced to irreducible life – a rare sentence in English law synonymous with life in prison without the possibility of release – by the Manchester court for the murder of seven premature newborns and six attempted murders on Monday August 21. The case sparked fear in the United Kingdom.
“There was premeditation, calculation and deviousness in your actions”insisted Mr. Goss, referring to “a calculated and cynical campaign” murders, “on the border of sadism” and without remorse. At the woman’s home, handwritten notes were found in which she had written: “I’m evil, I did it”. On other notes, she proclaimed her innocence.
The judge justifies “exceptional gravity” punishment for the crimes. He felt that only the murderess could know his motives but noted the“detached enthusiasm for the resurrections” which she displayed while attempting to revive children she had harmed.
The murders took place between June 2015 and June 2016. Lucy L. notably injected intravenous air into premature newborns, used their nasogastric tubes to send air or an overdose of milk into their stomachs. . The woman would attack babies after their parents left, when the nurse in charge went away, or at night when she was alone. She would then sometimes join collective efforts to save newborns, even assisting desperate parents, going so far as to write cards to grieving relatives.
Lucy L. absent for sentencing
Already absent from court on Friday when she was found guilty, Lucy L. refused to attend the pronouncement of her sentence, broadcast live on British television. This refusal aroused the frustration and anger of the families of victims who wanted the nurse to listen to their last testimonies.
“When we have committed such horrible crimes, it is cowardly not to confront the victims”, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Monday, adding that he was considering legislation so that it would not happen again. The British government has also ordered an independent investigation which will “on the circumstances behind the horrific murders and attempted murders of babies”. It should allow “making sure families get the answers they need”.
Since Friday, the questions are multiplying, in particular on the fact that Lucy L. was not arrested earlier. According to the British press, doctors would have launched alerts as early as 2015, but the management of the hospital would not have listened to them or would not have acted, concerned about the reputation of the establishment.
Police continue to review thousands of records for possible additional victims of Lucy L. On Sunday evening, the newspaper The Guardian reported that police were investigating dozens of incidents “suspects”involving 30 babies, at the hospital where she worked.