This article contains subject matter that may be traumatizing to some readers. Please read at your own risk.

On Monday, British nurse Lucy Letby, 33, received a life sentence with no chance of parole for her involvement in the deaths of seven infants and the attempted murder of six others at the UK hospital where she was employed. 

Manchester Crown Court in northern England imposed a whole life order (life sentence) on Letby, ensuring she spends the rest of her life behind bars.

Notably, Letby opted not to appear in the courtroom during her sentencing, prompting discussions about potential legal reforms requiring defendants to be present during such proceedings. This ruling followed her conviction by a jury on Friday, a case that shocked the nation and established her as Britain’s most notorious child serial killer in recent memory.

The British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, made a statement on Monday condemning Letby for her failure to appear in court and hear the victim impact statements and ruling from the judge. He said, “I think it’s cowardly that people who commit such horrendous crimes do not face their victims and hear first hand the impact that their crimes have had on them and their families and loved ones.” He went on to state, “We are looking and have been at changing the law to make sure that that happens and that’s something that we’ll bring forward in due course.”

During the court proceedings on Friday, it was revealed that Letby targeted the infants in her care, killing them via a series of different actions, which included introducing air into their bloodstream and stomachs, overfeeding them with milk, physically assaulting them, and administering insulin to poison them.

The government has stated that they will be launching an investigation into how Letby was able to get away with these heinous crimes for such an extended period of time.