UK - Nurse Lucy Letby, Faces 22 Charges - 7 Murder/15 Attempted Murder of Babies #27

[Blondiexoxo]

Ohh how I hope NJ is furiously taking notes of all these inconsistencies that are actually not what was said in evidence (evidence phase ended with the star prosecution witness the plumber) and that he takes them up with the judge before he gives his summing up. Hopefully the judge will implore the jury to focus on only the evidence presented and not on the opinions of barristers. NJ included as by rights his opinions aren’t evidence (though most of them can be backed up by evidence from his witnesses) JMO

Fire some post it notes out NJ

 

[Kemug]

Obviously the gig isn't up until the jury return their verdict but I can honestly say that as someone who joined this forum with a firm view that LL was taking a hit for chronic hospital failings and staff dysfunction (aka the scapegoat theory), having tracked this case more or less every day, I know 100% what my view now is and no amount of blether from BM would shift it. So I imagine that the jury have reached their own conclusions over time when the actual experts spoke and court admissible evidence was being presented.

Cannot imagine what level of fatigue the jury must be at by now. The very idea that they should return to their 'normal' jobs after this seems even abusive. They need respite surely? Anyway I've drifted but here's hoping for this to stop soon for everyone's sake. JMO MOO IANAL

Actually I should think that going back to their normal jobs will seem like a "doddle" after this, and would be a welcome relief! Plus, seriously, it would give them something else to think about.

 

[Blondiexoxo]

My heart would burst with pride if next week by some luck we hear that ‘NJ is back on his feet’. Still trying to find out whether in the UK the prosecution can have the final word, so far this is all I could find…

Reopening the Prosecution case​

Generally, once closed the prosecution cannot reopen its case, although if the defence raise an issue which the prosecution could not have foreseen, the judge may allow the prosecution to call evidence in rebuttal.

Crown Court Trial - Prosecution Case — Defence-Barrister.co.uk

Understand the prosecution case in the Crown Court, including service and presentation of evidence. Visit Defence-Barrister.co.uk for detailed guidance.

www.defence-barrister.co.uk

Now I might be wishful thinking, but as BM has raised many points which (from what I’ve seen anyway) weren’t raised during the initial evidence phase. Could it be possible that NJ could use this rule to ‘set the record straight’ so to speak. As IMO the lack of objection from NJ during this closing speech may possibly indicate that he is planning to call a witness. The accusations he’s made against the prosecutions experts were unbelievable, to the point I could imagine NJ feeling compelled to request to reopen his case or ask the judge for some form of rebuttal to the claims made by BM during this week.

Has anyone from here been to court this week? I want to know if NJ is looking angry, stressed, or quietly optimistic knowing he has a plan to bring down these claims.

JMO

 

[Blondiexoxo]

DBM double post

 

[Sundial]

He's certainly immersing himself in his roles - what do they call it 'method acting'?

Reminds me of mr Ben I think he was called (strangely enough!!) late 80s-90s uk kids programme where he’d go into the shop and come back out in different costumes and transported into a policeman for the day, a chef, a cowboy..

 

[marynnu]

Last bit for Baby P.

https://twitter.com/MrDanDonoghue

'Mr Myers says the evidence does show the child was unwell and the doctor, in charge of his care, 'felt out of her depth' - she said in evidence how she was counting down the minutes waiting for the transport team to take him

Mr Myers says if Ms Letby did make the remark alleged it may have been out of 'social awkwardness' and does not prove murder



He says the allegation here against Ms Letby is 'utterly implausible'. He also cites the fact a senior doctor was seen by the mother of Child P 'googling' how to insert a chest drain - he says that is 'indicative of the level of care at the Countess of Chester'

 

[Parker Knoll]

This is my hunch blondie.
I sincerely hope so, I cannot see how this could be allow to stand as it is right now.

 

[Jazmania]

Hmm, does he even know what he's saying half the time?


On Monday he said:

"He says some of the parents names of babies on the indictment are missing from the Facebook searches. He says there are no searches for the parents of Child L-Q."



He also said this on Monday:

Mr Myers refers to the 2015 and 2016 diaries found at Letby's home. He says there is nothing in the 2015 diary which is relevant to the indictment.
He asks, if the diaries are relevant, why there is no reference to Child A-K in them.


- and this on Wednesday:

11:22am

Mr Myers says Letby believed she had a good relationship with Child E and Child F's mother. He says there is an entry in Letby's diary on Child E - the only entry for any child in the indictment in the 2015 diary. He says there is no entry for Child F.

Good spot. Hope this is addressed in court. One error is understandable, but such frequent errors and half truths has a real implication on the integrity of the trial. Jurors will naturally expect and believe that the facts coming out of his mouth will be true, albeit that the interpretation of those facts will be weighed in Letby's favour. If the facts aren't true, that is deceiving the jury.

 

[Becky53]

If she gets convinced will the same team be doing the appeal? Does the appeal involve court performances?

DBM

Crass comment made.

 

[Blondiexoxo]

This is my hunch blondie.
I sincerely hope so, I cannot see how this could be allow to stand as it is right now.

IMO if Monday suddenly turns out to be a day of legal arguments then it might be possible we will hear that ‘NJ is back on his feet once more’ I think he has put so much time, effort and passion into this case I cannot see him letting it go to the jury as it is now. I can imagine NJ imploring the judge to allow him to recall atleast Dr Evans, these IMO are exceptional circumstances where it’s JMO but it feels like the jury are being misled.

I reckon NJ will not let this go to jury without a fight. If the judge allows it then I could see a surprise witness coming next week.

MOO

 

[Parker Knoll]

I agree, not sure the jury will be going out on the 10th to be honest.
JMO

 

[Dotta]

I agree, not sure the jury will be going out on the 10th to be honest.
JMO

This trial is already too long.

IMO there will not be any rebuttal by Prosecution.

The case is for the Jury to resolve.

JMO

 

[Parker Knoll]

Oh I totally agree Dotta - it is far too long and it’s taking it’s toll on everyone.
I just can’t see if NJ has the correct material to go back after this he won’t.
JMO

 

[marynnu]

dbm

 

[marynnu]

Hallelujah.

https://twitter.com/MrDanDonoghue

Child Q
Mr Myers is now on Child Q - the last child on this indictment. He was born in late June 2016 and was "initially stable" after his birth, but jurors heard he deteriorated and needed breathing support shortly after 09:00 on 25 June.

The prosecution said Ms Letby injected air and fluid into the boy's stomach via a nasogastric tube.

A medical expert for the prosecution said vomit found on Child Q was evidence that liquid had been given to him and his respiratory problems were likely caused by the fluid



Mr Myers says there's 'no evidence of her having done anything at all' to cause Child Q's collapse

Mr Myers says the clinical evidence is 'consistent with early stage Necrotising enterocolitis (NEC)' - this is a serious condition that can affect newborn babies

Mr Myers says 'what an earth is (Ms Letby) meant to have done, there's no evidence of an attack'



The Defence Concludes Their Speech
We're back after a break. Mr Myers is now on the final section of his defence closing speech

Mr Myers thanks the jury for their attention to the evidence. He says it 'isn’t difficult for someone to pick up one item or another and give prominence to one or another depending on which position you're coming from'

'The decision on what evidence is important and where it takes the case is for you', he says

He warns of the dangers in this case of 'emotion, suspicion and judging Ms Letby by standards that are not applied to anybody else, unrealistic standards, there's a reliance on the fact she was on the unit as proof for far more than that fact can possibly amount to'

 

[Dotta]

Now it is time for the Jury to decide what are FACTS and what is FICTION.

I believe they will manage to meet this challenge

JMO

 

[Dotta]

Double post

 

[CS2C]

Praise the lord….said the jury

 

[marynnu]

Oops, spoke too soon!

https://twitter.com/MrDanDonoghue

Myers says the consultants who have accused Ms Letby 'are not neutral' he says they are 'deeply involved in what happens, we say at times they have said things deliberately to prejudice Ms Letby's position'

He also says the experts - in particular Dr Dewi Evans - are 'highly partisan'

Mr Myers says 'we say there were terrible failings in care on that unit that has nothing to do with Lucy Letby'

He notes that 'between June 2015 and June 2016 the neonatal unit at the Countess of Chester took more babies than it would usually care for and took babies with greater care needs'

He said 'in that same year there was an increase in the number of deaths and the types of collapses we're looking at in this trial, those two facts are connected we would say'



'What didn’t change was Lucy Letby, she had been a neonatal nurse for years, she was dedicated, she cared for hundreds of babies, she suddenly didn’t change her behaviour in 2015, what changed was the babies on the unit and inability of this unit to cope'

Ms Letby appears to be crying in the dock as Mr Myers continues to wrap up his closing speech

He says 'it is easy to lose sight of the reality of the person at centre of this' and asks the jury not to focus on the 'picture conjured' by the Crown of the nurse

 

[nyvictoria]

Just want to say huge thanks to all who have posted trial testimony. It’s much appreciated!