Were Lucy Letby’s Handwritten Notes Real Confessions?
Her notes, including phrases like "I am evil, I did this" and "I killed them on purpose because I am not good enough to care for them," were used as evidence during her trial.
Special Interest
The Lucy Letby case raises interesting questions about the nature of confessions when it comes to trials and because it’s True Confessions Day on March 15, we’re looking at their legal implications in the pursuit of justice.
Lucy Letby, a former British neonatal nurse, became the center of one of the most shocking medical scandals in recent years. In 2023, she was convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven more while working at the Countess of Chester Hospital, and is currently serving 15 whole-life sentences for her crimes.
The case garnered widespread attention, particularly because of Letby’s handwritten notes that were presented in court as confessions, and that played a key role in her conviction. These alleged confessions, which included statements like “I am evil, I did this,” became a key point of controversy.
Letby’s notes were presented during her trial and seemed to paint a clear picture of her guilt. However, the defense argued that these statements were not genuine confessions—rather, they were written on the advice of her therapist as a way to manage stress and her emotions. Some experts dismissed them as “meaningless” and argued they held no value as evidence, especially if written as part of therapy.
Despite these concerns, the court convicted Letby. Other substantial evidence, including her presence at a high number of deaths and inconsistencies in medical records pointing to irregularities in the babies’ care under her watch, presented a strong case. However, for some, it raises the question of whether she would have been convicted without them.