JAKARTA - The British court sentenced Lucy Letby to life in prison, a nurse who had the heart to kill seven newborns, with judges deciding that the serial killer should not be released.
Letby, 33, had the heart to kill five baby boys and two baby girls in the neonatal unit of the forced death of Chester hospital in northern England, within 13 months of 2015, injecting the poor babies with insulin or air, or giving them forced milk.
Some of those he attacked were twins, in one case he killed his two siblings, in another case he killed two of the three triplets. In two cases he killed one twin brother, but failed to kill the other.
"This is a violent, taken into account and cynical campaign involving the smallest and most vulnerable children!" said judge James Goss, who sentenced him to life imprisonment without the prospect of release.
The police did not find a motive for his crime. Meanwhile, Judge Goss said only Letby knew the reason for his actions.
Life imprisonment is very rare, and only three women in England have received such punishments before, including serial killer Myra Hindley andria West.
Letby refused to leave the cell to hear his sentence imposed, leading to criminal charges having to be forced to hear the impact of their actions on victims or their families.
"There is a deep intention that borders on the sadistic in your actions... you have no regrets. No mitigating factors... you will spend the rest of your life in prison," said one of the parents of the baby who was killed while sobbing at trial.
The horrific crime committed by Letby, who was in his 20s when he committed massive murder at his workplace, has horrified Britain, destroyed the lives of the victims' families and caused prolonged damage to his colleagues.
Earlier, the court listened to emotional and heartbreaking statements from each parent of the person he killed and attempted to kill, recounting the trauma and "extraordinary suffering" he caused.
"Lucy Letby has destroyed our lives. The anger and hatred that I have towards him will never be lost," the father of triplets said in a statement.
Meanwhile, a mother of twins, one of whom was killed by Letby and the other survived, hoping the nurse lived a long life, spending every day suffering for what she had done.
"My family will never touch me again. From today, you are nothing," said the mother.
Separately, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Letby's actions were reluctant to attend the verdict hearing in person, as a coward act.
Meanwhile, the current UK law allows judges to increase sentences against those who do not attend the verdict hearing.
The British government itself is said to be considering the defendant's presence during the verdict. "That's something we will put forward in due course," said PM Sunak.
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In addition, the government has also ordered an investigation into the case amid allegations from senior doctors in neonatal units that their concern about Letby has not been heeded by hospital superiors, with calls to ensure it is led by a judge who can force witnesses to provide evidence.
PM Sunak emphasized that it is important for families to get the answers they need, with the investigation carried out as quickly and transparently as possible.
The police are also investigating another 4,000 patients being treated at the neonatal unit where Letby works, to see if there are any other victims.
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