Lucy Letby is a coward – she should have to face us in court and hear how she destroyed our lives, say victims’ families

FAMILIES of Lucy Letby’s victims have branded the murderous nurse a ‘coward’ and are demanding she be forced to face them in court.

The twisted nurse who murdered seven newborns today refuses to face charges.

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That means she doesn’t have to listen to victim testimonies from the families of those she killed and injured.

They say it’s a “slap in the face” and believe they should be made to listen to how she “ruined” her life.

A father whose twins Letby tried to kill recounted The Daily Mail: “She’s a coward and we feel betrayed that she won’t be there to hear exactly how her horrific acts have impacted our boys and our lives.”

“What gives her the right to refuse to leave the cells or to tell the judge that she has no intention of hearing his verdict? The law has to change.

“The judge should be given the power to summon her to the dock to face me, my wife and any other victims who are dying for her to hear our victim impact statements.”

He added: “It’s a complete injustice and a slap in the face to all of us.”

“The UK justice system must change to ensure that in future the voices of all victims are heard by those who commit such horrific crimes.”

The appeal came as a former justice secretary said statements from her victims’ families should be forwarded to Letby’s cell if she refuses to leave.

Sir Robert Buckland said: “Unfortunately, the court’s hands are tied.

“My suggestion would be to arrange for a live feed to be broadcast into the audio and/or visual cell to ensure that Letby has nowhere to hide and actually has to listen to what the judge is saying about the case.”

“Most importantly, listening to the victims’ personal testimonies will help her understand the horrific and devastating impact of the loss of these innocent babies.”

Under the laws, which are expected to be proposed in the king’s speech later this year, offenders will have to appear in court to hear their sentence.

Last week Judge Goss said the court had no authority to compel the baby killer to appear in court.

However, last night it was reported that the government understands Letby could indeed be forced to attend.

A source told the Daily Telegraph Prison officials can use “lawful enforcement” to ensure that an accused is present when the judge announces the sentence.

However, it is believed that some guards are reluctant to use force because they will take legal action if they are found to have exceeded the legal limit
“reasonable”.

The source said: “Lucy Letby should be in court to hear society condemn the enormity of her crimes through the judge.

“If that requires the use of lawful enforcement, then so be it. If she continues to refuse, it will only strengthen our resolve to change the law as soon as possible.”

Reports say the new law could include more protections for guards.

Among the other high-profile criminals who declined to appear in court for sentencing is 34-year-old Thomas Cashman, who killed nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel at her Liverpool home last August.

Letby, 33, is expected to become only the third living woman to be sentenced to life in prison, meaning she will never be released from prison.

Letby’s heinous crimes were exposed during a nearly 10-month trial that revealed she also tried to kill six other newborns.

So far, officers had only investigated her killings between June 2015 and June 2016.

However, they are now continuing their investigation – and it is feared that she may have attacked 30 other babies.

Officials have noted other “suspicious incidents” at the hospitals where she worked, according to The Times.

They don’t believe she is responsible for any more deaths, but believe she may have injured another 30 babies on the wards.

During a year-long killing spree, Letby has targeted newborns at the Countess of Chester Hospital.

Senior NHS managers missed several opportunities to stop them, tried to silence suspect doctors and delayed calling police.

Meanwhile, calls for a judicial investigation are mounting.

At this time, the official inquiry into how the case was handled will not have the power to compel witnesses to testify.

It was announced yesterday that Letby could be placed under 24-hour suicide surveillance in prison.

It is believed she could be serving her sentence at HMP Low Newton, a maximum security prison for women in County Durham, or at HMP Bronzefield, the largest women’s prison in Europe.

Letby previously shared how she contemplated taking her own life after being blamed for the deaths.

She told Manchester Crown Court: “There were times when I didn’t want to live. I thought about killing myself.”

It is now believed that she will be placed under suicide surveillance after her incarceration.

Ian Carson of the Prison Officers Association said so Mirror: “It wouldn’t surprise me if she was under constant surveillance 24/7.

“It would be very embarrassing if she killed herself before justice was done. Prison officials may instead choose to check on her every 10 minutes if she is not identified as such a threat.”

Mr Carson added: “They will have more custodians not only to make sure she doesn’t commit suicide but to make sure she doesn’t escape.”

If she is handed a life sentence, she will join the ranks of Rose West, serial killer Joanna Dennehy and the late Moors killer Myra Hindley.

Her mother, Susan, whined, “This can’t be right” when it was revealed that her daughter was found guilty of killing babies.

The jury failed to reach a verdict in the six remaining counts of the attempted murder of four babies – prompting some families to storm the home.

The prosecutor has now asked for 28 days to consider whether there will be a retrial.

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