Lucy Letby ‘celebrated winning Grand National bet after trying to murder twin boys’
A NURSE celebrated winning a Grand National bet shortly after attempting to kill twin boys, a court heard.
Lucy Letby allegedly attacked the premature tots causing one, named as Child M, to “dramatically” collapse in his incubator.
His brother Child L also deteriorated beside him at “pretty much the same time”, jurors were told.
Two hours later, Letby allegedly messaged a pal saying: “Work has been s***e but … I’ve just won £135 on the grand national!! (horse emoji).”
The nurse, 32, accused of embarking on a year-long killing spree while working on the neonatal ward at the Countess of Chester Hospital.
She allegedly murdered seven babies and attempted to kill ten others.
Manchester Crown Court heard on April 9, 2016, Letby poisoned Child L with insulin and also injected air into the bloodstream of Child M.
At around 1pm, Letby had messaged her mum Susan about the Grand National, which was taking place that day.
She wrote: “Is dad betting on the Grand National? If so can he see which are greys and put a bet on for me please x”.
Her dad, John, gave her the names of three horses including the eventual winner, it was said.
He placed a £2 each-way bet for his daughter on Rule The World because it shared its name with the popular Take That song.
At around 4pm, both baby boys collapsed in the unit’s intensive care room.
Letby’s mum then text her at 5.25pm with the news that her horse had won.
The nurse messaged her pal at around 6pm celebrating her win, jurors were told.
The court heard that Letby had moved into her new home, which was close to the hospital, earlier in the week.
She had messaged her friends on a group WhatsApp at around 2pm on the same shift asking them to come over.
Letby said: “Got magnum prosecco and vodka woop. No disco ball but sure we can manage”.
After the winning bet, she sent another text saying: “Unpacking party sounds good to me with my flavoured vodka ha ha.
“Just won the Grand National!! (horse emoji).”
The boys’ dad told the court how a nurse had come “charging in”, telling him and his wife: “You need to come now.”
They rushed downstairs to find a doctor doing chest compressions on Child M.
The dad said: “It was very distressing to see. I will never forget that image. I still have it in my mind.”
A nurse told him the baby had been “absolutely fine” and they did not know what had happened to him, jurors heard.
Child M’s heart stopped but thankfully he stabilised and his “colour started coming back”, it was said.
His mum said: “I was praying to my God to see my boy and help him. I was asking to my God to save him.”
The court heard previously how Letby was a “constant malevolent presence” on the neonatal ward.
Some of the newborns were repeatedly targeted by the nurse – including one baby Letby is alleged to have killed after three previous failed attempts.
Consultants at the hospital grew suspicious of the “significant rise” in the number of babies dying or suffering “catastrophic” collapses.
Jurors were told they found Letby was the “one common denominator” among the deaths and collapses.
Letby allegedly declared “I am evil” on a Post-It note found in her home after her arrest.
She is also said to have scrawled: “I don’t deserve to live. I killed them on purpose because I’m not good enough”.
Letby denies all 22 charges, which are said to have taken place between June 2015 and June 2016.
A court order prohibits identifying the surviving and deceased children and prohibits identifying parents or witnesses connected with the babies.
The trial continues.