Lucy Letby, the nurse on trial for killing the children she cared for, told a jury that two children were deliberately poisoned with insulin – but not her.
The premature babies, identified as Child F and L, both survived the alleged attacks at the Countess of Chester hospital.
Under cross-examination at Manchester crown court on Thursday, Letby also told a jury that a “gang of four” consultants conspired to falsely accuse him, “to cover up the failings of hospital”.
Letby, 33, denies killing seven babies and trying to kill 10 others in the neonatal unit between June 2015 and June 2016. None of the children can be named for legal reasons.
He is accused of intentionally adding insulin to Child F’s intravenous feed bag during a night shift in August 2015, less than 24 hours after he allegedly killed his twin brother, Child E.
He was accused of trying to kill Child L in April 2016, at the same time he tried to kill his twin brother, Child M, by injecting air into his blood.
Nick Johnson KC, who examined Letby on the second day, asked him if he agreed that “someone” had “unlawfully” given Child F and Child L insulin. He agreed, saying the feeding bags must have been tampered with by someone on the unit or before the bags arrived on the ward.
“Insulin was added by someone – how or who I can’t comment on, it wasn’t me,” he said. “I don’t believe that any member of staff in the unit would make a mistake and give insulin,” he added.
Letby was also asked why some of his colleagues in the neo-natal unit suspected him of murder. “Are you suggesting that there was some kind of agreement between the medical staff to get you?” Johnson asked.
Letby replied: “In the group of consultants, I believe yes.”
Asked who, Letby named Dr Stephen Brearey, Dr John Gibbs, Dr Ravi Jayaram and another doctor who cannot be named for legal reasons.
Johnson replied: “Four doctors. A gang of four we call them. What is the conspiracy?”
Letby replied: “They apportion the blame to me.”
Asked their motive, Letby replied: “I believe to cover up the failures of the hospital.”
He said staff failures contributed to the death of one child (Child A) because he was without water for four hours due to issues with his feeding lines.
Jurors were told that after his arrest a total of 257 transfer handover sheets – some including the names of children he allegedly abused – were found at his former home in Chester and the address of his parents in Hereford. Johnson said there were so many that when stacked they were “about the size of a phone book”.
He told the jury on Thursday that the sheets were “insignificant” and “just pieces of paper”.
He said: “That is the truth. They mean nothing to me at all. I have many pieces of paper and cards that I have not thrown away in my entire life.”
Letby admitted to sometimes visiting the unit at night while not working a shift.
He said it was to fill out paperwork or talk to colleagues and the late-night visits were due to his shift patterns.
The jury heard that he went to the unit on his day off when a girl, Child G – who he allegedly tried to kill – became seriously ill.
“You used to watch him, didn’t you? Why are you looking at this child?” asked the prosecutor.
Letby said he was “checked in”, having gone to the unit to complete paperwork relating to the child.
He also denied feeling “excitement” from receiving a sympathy card sent by the parents of a Child I, a girl he allegedly killed in the fourth attempt.
The trial continues.
