A British nurse refused to appear in court on Monday to be sentenced for the murders of seven babies and attempted murders of six others at the UK hospital where she worked.
Lucy Letby, 33, could face a whole life order, meaning she spends the rest of her life behind bars, when she is sentenced later at Manchester Crown Court in northern England. She was found guilty on Friday by a jury, in a case that horrified the country and made her the most prolific child serial killer of recent times.
She’s going to get life in prison either way, so what’s the point of her going to any more hearings?
I believe it’s at the sentencing that victim impact statements are read. It’s the only time victims can speak directly to the perpetrator. Some victims might get a sense of closure from that.
She killed seven babies. Somehow I doubt she cares about providing closure.
It’s not about her, it’s about the victims. They want the opportunity to speak in open court and to witness her sentencing. Currently she can just opt not to go but I think they’re looking into changing the law so that the victims can have at least that.
I can’t believe you can just opt out of that after murdering someone’s children. Incarceration would be mandatory. Why is this not?
I think it’s because you can’t really force a person to behave properly if they don’t want to. They could force her to be there but they would have to restrain her and gag her because she could just scream and kick the entire time. It’s so easy for her to spoil the moment that they only do it if she is on board with it.
They’re looking into changing the law so it is mandatory I believe.
I still don’t think they will be able to physically force the perpetrator to be present for the sentencing and victim impact statements, as this could result in very upsetting and unpredictable scenes in the courtroom for the victim’s families, if the prisoner chooses to freak out. Instead, I think there will be additional punishments for non-attendance. But if you are likely to be given a whole life sentence, what additional punishment could be effective compared to that?