Lucy Letby’s murder trial has heard she was one of only two nurses on duty when two baby boys were poisoned eight months apart with insulin.

The 33-year-old defendant added unprescribed insulin to a bag, or bags, containing nutrients that was intravenously given to Child F in August 2015 at the Countess of Chester Hospital, the prosecution alleges.

A court heard she struck again with another deliberate insulin poisoning on the neonatal unit in April 2016 when Child L was intravenously receiving dextrose – a sugar solution.

Both infants had hypoglycaemic episodes in which their blood sugar levels dropped dangerously low before they went on to make full recoveries.

Letby denied being aware Child F had problems with his blood sugar – despite evidence that she texted a colleague about it.

Manchester Crown Court was read a transcript of Letby’s police interview, where she told officers she was not aware the infant had problems with his blood sugar.

“You were aware though, weren’t you, at the time?” prosecutor Nick Johnson asks.

“No,” says Letby.

But the court was then shown a WhatsApp conversation between Letby and her colleague on 5 August 2015.

Letby: Did you hear what Child F’s sugar was at 8?

Letby: 1.8

[Colleague]: S***!!!

Letby: Wonder if he has an endocrine problem then. Hope they can get to the bottom of it.

The prosecution claimed Letby was trying to create the impression in the messages that the child’s blood sugar collapse was the result of natural causes – not sabotage.

Letby said the nutrition bags she is accused of tampering with would have been secure – but a doctor has previously demonstrated to the trial how the tamper-proof bag could have been broken.

“Whoever did it, did it deliberately,” Mr Johnson said.

“If it happened on the unit, yes,” Letby replied.

“That’s why it was a targeted attack, wasn’t it?” Mr Johnson asked.

There was silence from Letby before she eventually replied: “Not by me it wasn’t.”

Letby, from Hereford, denies the murders of seven babies and the attempted murders of 10 others between June 2015 and June 2016.

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

The case of Child K

In other evidence, the court was told about Child K, who was born weighing just 692g and was due to be moved to a specialist hospital when the girl suddenly collapsed.

Letby was not the designated nurse for the infant, but swipe card data show she collapsed just three minutes after being left in her care.

The nurse looking after the infant left the unit at 3.47am on 17 February 2016 to speak her parents. At 3.50am, Child K’s oxygen levels dropped suddenly.

Letby agreed it would have been “common practice” for the infant’s assigned nurse to have asked a colleague to watch Child K when she was gone. When asked if she was the one looking after the baby, Letby said: “I have no memory of that.”

“But do you dispute the evidence it was you?” Mr Johnson asked.

“I don’t know how I can answer that,” she replied.

By this time, a doctor on the neonatal unit had grown suspicious of Letby’s alleged involvement in the deaths.

He previously told the court he walked into Child K’s room and – despite her oxygen levels being dangerously low – the alarm was not sounding as it should have been.

He noted that Letby was making no effort to help Child K.

After three days of delays last week, illness in the jury meant the trial was adjourned again. No more evidence will be heard until at least Wednesday.

It has already been a lengthy court case, beginning on 10 October 2022.

Related posts:

UK reports one COVID-related death and 3,383 new cases in latest figures Kate jokes about getting William a Spider-Man suit as she praises ‘amazing’ photo of lockdown hero Shots fired ‘indiscriminately’ at house while children were inside UK charges third Russian intelligence officer over Salisbury spy poisonings Torso in the Thames: Police appeal over ‘cold’ case of unidentified boy who may have died in ritual killing Harry Dunn’s parents reach ‘resolution’ with teenager’s alleged killer in damages claim Man arrested after deaths of four people in Killamarsh was taken to hospital with self-inflicted injuries Walker rescued from cliff face was ‘finger’s grip’ away from plunging to his death Sir Alex Ferguson defends Giggs at assault trial – as ex’s letter names women footballer ‘cheated with’ New Met chief promises to be ‘ruthless’ in kicking out corrupt officers Labour and Starmer have accepted thousands from major Just Stop Oil donor Nation’s support is ‘greatest coronation gift,’ says King