Dr Ravi Jayaram found Letby standing next to a baby in 2016 which made him suspicious of her.
Dr Ravi Jayaram, an Indian-origin consultant paediatrician at a hospital in northern England, played a crucial role in the conviction of former nurse Lucy Letby, found guilty of killing seven newborn babies. Dr Jayaram’s concerns about Letby’s actions were pivotal, revealing that prompt action could have saved lives.
Dr Jayaram’s vigilance began after three babies died in June 2015. As more babies faced similar fates, senior medical personnel, including Dr Jayaram, held meetings with hospital executives, raising concerns about Letby’s activities.
It wasn’t until April 2017 that the National Health Service (NHS) trust allowed doctors to meet with the police.
“The police, after listening to us for less than 10 minutes, realized that this is something that they had to be involved with. I could have punched the air,” recalled Dr Jayaram. This led to the launch of an investigation that eventually led to Letby’s arrest.
Crucial Evidence
Letby was found guilty of using various methods to attack 13 babies in the neonatal ward at the Countess of Chester hospital between 2015 and 2016.
She injected air and insulin into their bloodstream, infused air into their gastrointestinal tract, forced excessive milk or fluids, and inflicted impact-type trauma.
“I do genuinely believe that there are four or five babies who could be going to school now who aren’t,” Dr Jayaram told
In court, evidence showed that Letby deceived her colleagues, making her attacks appear as a worsening of each baby’s vulnerability. She manipulated ordinary substances to become lethal, betraying the trust placed in her by families and colleagues.
Police discovered handwritten notes by Letby, revealing her mindset after the attacks.
Notes like “I killed them on purpose because I’m not good enough to care for them” and “I am evil I did this” offered a chilling insight into her thoughts.
Betrayal of Trust
Letby was first arrested in 2018 and charged in 2020. While found guilty of seven counts of murder and attempted murder, she was not guilty on two charges of attempted murder.
“Time and again, she harmed babies, in an environment which should have been safe for them and their families. Her attacks were a complete betrayal of the trust placed in her,” said Pascale Jones of the CPS.
The jury remained unable to reach verdicts on six additional counts of attempted murder.
As the trial concluded, Letby maintained her innocence, claiming false accusation to cover hospital failings.
Detective Chief Inspector Nicola Evans reflected on the case’s gravity, acknowledging the immense suffering endured by the families throughout the process.
“The details of this case are truly crushing. A trained nurse responsible for caring and protecting tiny, premature babies; a person who was in a position of trust, she abused that trust in the most unthinkable way,” said Evans.
