Lucy Letby denies further targeting baby to mislead staff

Letby, who wore a black suit with a navy blue and white polka dot top, has denied she harmed Baby K in any way.

Cross-examining her, Nick Johnson KC said: “You tried to kill her didn’t you?”

Letby replied: “No, I did not.”

Mr Johnson put it to the former nurse that she “tried to create the impression that [Baby K] was habitually desaturating and dislodging her own tube, didn’t you?”

“No,” said Letby.

She agreed that Baby K had been given an infusion of morphine after 04:00.

Mr Johnson said: “Do you accept the fact she was sedated with morphine meant she would not have been active?”

Letby said: “She would be relaxed but she could have moved if she wanted to.”

A portable X-ray machine was brought into the neo-natal unit shortly before 06.10 to record a scan for Baby K, the court heard, which showed the breathing tube in the correct position.

Up to 15 minutes later the baby desaturated again as the prosecution suggested Letby went into nursery one to return some notes to the infant’s cot side.

Mr Johnson said: “Those two events are connected, aren’t they?”

“No,” said Letby.

Mr Johnson said: “Just as later on [Baby K] collapsed for a third time when you were there, didn’t she?”

Letby said: “According to the staff accounts, yes. I don’t have any recollection of it myself.”