Nurse Lucy Letby told one of her colleagues that it was “all a bit much” after the death of a second baby she is alleged to have murdered.
The 32-year-old is accused of killing the premature baby – known as Child C – days after allegedly killing Child A and attempting to murder Child B in 2015.
She is on trial at Manchester Crown Court, having denied murdering seven babies and attempting to murder 10 others at the Countess of Chester Hospital between June 2015 and June 2016.
On Thursday the court heard that Child C, who weighed 800g (1lb 12oz), had collapsed while Letby was on a night shift, dying just before 6am on 14 June.
The jury was told about messages Letby had sent to friends and colleagues after finishing the shift.
‘I just keep seeing them both’
To her colleague Jennifer Jones-Key, she said: “Sorry if I was off, just wasn’t a great start to the shift but sadly it got worse.
“I was struggling to accept what happened to (Child A). Now we’ve lost (Child C) overnight and it’s all a bit much.
“I just keep seeing them both.
“No one should have to see and do the things we do – it’s heart-breaking.”
‘We lost a little one overnight’
She added: “It’s not about me or anyone else – it’s those poor parents who have to walk away without their baby. It’s so unbelievably sad.”
Letby also messaged her mother Susan and said: “We lost a little one overnight – very unexpected and sad.”
She said the baby only weighed 800g and was being looked after by “new girl” Sophie Ellis, who was “devastated”.
Letby’s mother had replied: “We are so proud of you, love you.”
‘It has been awful’
Letby also messaged Ms Ellis and told her: “We are a good team and we’ll get through. You did so, so well.”
Messaging another colleague about the death of Child C, she said it had “all happened very quickly”.
“There are no words. It has been awful.”
A court order prohibits reporting of the identities of surviving and dead children allegedly attacked by Letby, and also prohibits identifying parents or witnesses connected with the children.
The trial continues.
