Lucy Letby’s trial has heard testimony regarding the condition of a premature baby referred to as Baby K, whose health reportedly worsened when her breathing tube was displaced shortly after birth. Dr. James Smith, a registrar, recounted how he resuscitated Baby K, who was born at just 25 weeks and weighing 1lb 8oz, before she required intubation. According to medical records presented at Manchester Crown Court, the baby’s condition deteriorated, necessitating the reinsertion of the breathing tube multiple times.
During cross-examination, Dr. Smith acknowledged that displacement of the tube could occur. Dr. Ravi Jayaram, a consultant paediatrician, noted that despite three attempts by Dr. Smith to insert the tube, he did not intervene initially because Baby K showed good chest movement and ventilation.
The prosecution alleges that Dr. Jayaram found Letby “caught virtually red-handed” in Baby K’s nursery, where the infant’s oxygen levels were dropping. Following this incident on February 17, Baby K was transferred to Arrowe Park Hospital and passed away three days later. However, the prosecution does not claim that Letby caused the baby’s death.
Dr. Srinvasaro Babarao from Arrowe Park Hospital testified that Baby K’s condition was very serious upon arrival and her death could not have been avoided or prevented.
Dr. Sara Brigham defended the decision not to transfer Baby K’s mother to Royal Preston Hospital during labor, stating it was deemed unsafe due to the risk of delivering in transit. Ben Myers KC, defending Letby, highlighted the hindsight perspective, questioning whether there would have been sufficient time for a safe transfer, given that Baby K was not born until 35 hours later.
Letby, who resides in Hereford, denies the charge of attempted murder. She had previously been convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder six others, with this trial being a retrial.
The jury, consisting of six men and six women, continues to hear evidence in the case.
