Lucy Letby implied that she could offer “advice” to a coworker on how to evade justice, a public inquiry has revealed.
The convicted child serial killer engaged in WhatsApp conversations in 2017 with union representative Hayley Griffiths regarding the American legal drama How To Get Away With Murder.
This exchange occurred a year after the neonatal nurse was reassigned to administrative tasks at the Countess of Chester Hospital due to concerns that she may have been intentionally harming infants.
In a message to Letby, Ms. Griffiths stated: “I’m currently watching a show called How To Get Away With Murder. I’m picking up some useful tips.”
Letby responded: “I could have provided you with some tips x.”
Ms. Griffiths replied: “I need someone to test my skills on to see if I could pull it off.”
Letby then indicated: “I can think of two individuals you might consider for practice and I will assist you in covering it up x.”
Ms. Griffiths responded: “Deal. I will devise a plan. Let’s book a cruise for our escape.”
The pair were working in the hospital’s risk and patient safety department one year before Letby was detained on suspicion of multiple murders by Cheshire Police.
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How the police caught Lucy Letby
Ms. Griffiths indicated that she was conscious of the suspicions of malpractice and the link to Letby by September 2016.
Shahram Sharghy, who represents some of the families of Letby’s victims, inquired: “Considering the gravity of these allegations, arguably the most serious claims anyone could level against a healthcare professional, do you agree that you were trivializing those allegations when discussing the possibility of committing a crime?”
Ms. Griffiths replied: “No.”
Mr. Sharghy further asked: “Can you even start to grasp the perspective of the families of the affected infants when they read those messages?”
Ms. Griffiths responded: “I understand… I am incredibly sorry. The moment I came across the messages myself, I felt distressed and I can’t fathom… I can only express my apologies and state that I have learned from this. I cannot rewind time, but I have thoroughly reflected on it.”
Discover more from the inquiry:
‘Cold’ Lucy Letby failed final year student nurse placement
‘Breathing tubes dislodged’ during Letby shifts
Nurses who collaborated with Letby ‘were considering the unthinkable’
Earlier, Ms. Griffiths expressed to inquiry counsel Rachel Langdale KC: “It was nothing beyond a conversation. Nevertheless, I genuinely and profoundly regret having initiated that dialogue… This behavior was entirely unprofessional, poorly judged on my part, and utterly insensitive. For this transgression, I can only apologize sincerely.”
Letby, 34, from Hereford, is currently serving 15 life sentences without parole.
She was found guilty at Manchester Crown Court of murdering seven infants and attempting to murder six others between June 2015 and June 2016.
The Thirlwall Inquiry into the circumstances surrounding her offenses is anticipated to continue until early 2015, with findings expected by late autumn of that year.
