A JUNIOR doctor told a colleague she was “upset” she may have injured a baby with her chest compressions, the Lucy Letby murder trial has heard.

Nurse Letby, 33, is alleged to have murdered the infant, a newborn triplet, during a day shift at the Countess of Chester Hospital’s neonatal unit on June 23, 2016.

Last week her trial at Manchester Crown Court heard evidence that the youngster, Child O, sustained liver damage akin to a child injured in a road traffic collision.

An expert pathologist said “inflicted liver trauma” had partly caused the boy’s death and that he believed CPR used in trying to revive him did not play any part in the injury.

The defendant is alleged to have murdered his triplet brother, Child P, on the following day shift.

On Thursday the court was read a Facebook message exchange a week later on June 30 between Letby and a doctor, who cannot be identified for legal reasons.

The doctor wrote: “Did J tell you what was wrong earlier?”

Letby replied: “Not really. We started talking but then people came into the nursery and she dashed off.”

The doctor said: “I’m not sure where that information has come from. It seems that on the SHO (senior house officer) grapevine somebody at LWH (Liverpool Women’s Hospital) has said that one of the triplets was found to have a ruptured liver.

“J was upset that this may have been caused by her chest compressions.”

Letby responded: “Oh no that’s awful. No wonder she’s upset. Were you able to reassure her?”

The doctor said: “We spent 20 minutes in a cubicle going over everything. The CPR was all at the 5th rib space below the nipple.”

He later messaged: “I’m not sure I believe it. It was a coroner’s PM (post-mortem). It usually takes weeks to get any report.”

Letby said: “It seems a bit like rumour mill has gone into overdrive. The boys were only returned today. Don’t see how info would be out that quick?”

The doctor said: “No me either.”

Letby said: “Not nice for J though. Can see how it would play on her mind.

“It’s good she felt able to tell you.”

The doctor said: “I’m good for a hug and a chat. I think it helped.”

Letby replied: “She said she’d spoken (and cried on) you … and was feeling better for it.”

The court heard the J referred to was senior house officer Dr Jessica Burke, “a relatively junior doctor at the time”.

Giving evidence on Wednesday, April 5, the doctor – who cannot be identified – told the court he did not have any concerns about the chest compressions.

He said “a lot of introspection” was occurring at the time.

He said: “It’s very easy to turn and look into what you don’t understand and I suspect that is what happened.”

Ben Myers KC, defending, asked: “Independently of your role, do you have any recollection of who did what during the resuscitation?”

The doctor replied: “No I don’t.

“I was managing the airway and at some point we changed position to make sure we didn’t tire but I don’t recall who was doing what at what particular time. I was focusing on the task at hand.”

Letby denies murdering seven babies and attempting to murder 10 others between June 2015 and June 2016.