THE case against murder-accused nurse Lucy Letby is "incomplete and inconsistent", a court was told, as the defence speech ended today (Friday, June 30).

The nine-month trial at Manchester Crown Court of Lucy Letby, 33, who denies murdering seven babies and attempting to murder 10 more, is entering its final stages.

Benjamin Myers KC, giving his fifth and final day of the defence closing speech, told jurors to use their knowledge of the case to look at the evidence, and entrusted them to analyse it as they have done "over the past nine months of their lives".

He said in this case, the dangers of the jury being influenced by factors which are unfair were "clear", including emotion and setting Letby "unrealistic standards", including her presence on the unit being 'proof' of her being linked with the allegations.

The jury of eight women and four men were told by Mr Myers that the prosecution case was "incomplete and inconsistent" and did not go to support what is alleged. He added the medical evidence in this case is "crucial".

Countess of Chester Hospital medical staff were "deeply involved in what has happened" and have said things, at times, which are "deliberately prejudicial" against Letby, he told the court.

He added the prosecution case relies heavily on experts, and that the defence case was two experts in particular - Dr Dewi Evans and Dr Sandie Bohin - were "partisan" and worked to support a theory of guilt.

Mr Myers said these are the "most grave allegations" and each one must be "considered with care". He added the jury have seen "over and over again" that the presence of Letby is the sole evidence for the allegation against her when an event happens.

He said Letby was not seen to do any of the acts against her, and there was "no direct evidence" of that.

The court was told between June 2015-June 2016, the Countess took more babies than usual, and with more care needs. Mr Myers said there was an increase in the number of deaths, and those two factors are connected. He added what didn't change was Lucy Letby.

Mr Myers said nobody at the hospital was going to turn around and say 'yes we got this wrong', in relation to failings in care at the Countess of Chester Hospital. He said when the failings happened, Letby got the blame, instead of "terrible" "sub-optimal care" for the babies at the neonatal unit over those 12 months.

He added many of the allegations rely on "inconsistent standards" and "partisan and poorly reasoned" experts, and the prosecution case relies on a "presumption of guilt".

As Letby wiped away tears in the dock, Mr Myers said it was easy to lose sight of the person behind the allegations, and of who she was. He called on the jury not to rely on the "caricature" created by the prosecution case.

Mr Myers said Letby took on extra shifts and was flexible in her work. He added: "She was hard-working, she was deeply committed, she had a happy life, she loved her work...and loved being a nurse, so was there when these incidents happened.

"For a system that wanted to apportion blame for when it failed, she was the obvious target ...[as] she was there."