A HANDWRITTEN note found in murder accused Hereford nurse Lucy Letby's Chester home, in which she wrote 'I am evil' has been revealed in full by the Crown Prosecution Service.
Concluding the prosecution opening at Letby's trial, which began at Manchester Crown Court on Monday, Mr Johnson said “interesting items” were found after the arrest and police search of Lucy Letby’s house.
The nurse, who grew up in Hereford and is now of Arran Avenue, Hereford, is accused of murdering seven infants and attempting to murder 10.
The 32-year-old faces a total of seven murder charges and 22 attempted murder charges. She denies all charges.
Mr Johnson said yesterday (October 13) that police had found "interesting items" in Letby's home, including Post-it notes with closely-written words.
“On some of the notes were phrases like as ‘Why/how has this happened – what process has led to this current situation," Mr Johnson said.
“‘What allegations have been made and by who? Do they have written evidence to support their comments?’
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“In her writings, she expressed frustration at the fact that she was not being allowed back on to the neo-natal unit and wrote, ‘I haven’t done anything wrong and they have no evidence, so why have I had to hide away?’
“And notes also expressed concern for the long-term effects of what she feared was being alleged against her and there are also many protestations of innocence.
“But I want to show you one note in particular.”
Highlighting a Post-it note shown on TV screens to the jury, Mr Johnson focused on some of the words written by Letby.
Mr Johnson said: “She wrote, ‘I don’t deserve to live. I killed them on purpose because I’m not good enough’. ‘I am a horrible evil person’ and in capital letters, ‘I AM EVIL I DID THIS’.”
Mr Johnson added: “Well, ladies and gentlemen, that in a nutshell is your task in this case. Whether or not she did these dreadful things is the decision you will have to make when you have heard all the evidence.”
But Ben Myers KC, defending Letby, cited the Post-it note as he opened the defence case yesterday afternoon, telling the jury it was the "anguished outpouring of a young woman in fear and despair when she realises the enormity of what’s being said about her, in the moment to herself.”
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Mr Myers said at the time it was written she was dealing with employment issues, including a grievance procedure with the NHS trust.
The Post-it note, again enlarged and shown on screens to the jury, included the words: “Not good enough. I’m an awful person. I will never have children or marry. Despair” and, “I haven’t done anything wrong”.
Mr Myers said the paperwork and notes found in Letby’s possession showed she was the type of person who scribbles things down a lot and hangs on to bits of paper, and “nothing more extraordinary than that.”.
The trial continues.
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