THE Lucy Letby trial jury has been sent home following the 14th day of deliberations (Friday, August 4).
Letby, 33, denies murdering seven babies at the Countess of Chester Hospital neonatal unit and attempting to murder 10 more.
After nine months of hearing evidence, the jurors had retired to consider verdicts on the 22 charges Letby faces on Monday, July 10.
The 22 charges are seven of murder, and 15 of attempted murder, which the prosecution allege happened at the neonatal unit between June 2015 and June 2016.
At the end of Thursday, August 3, trial judge Mr Justice James Goss said "for good personal reasons", it was "not possible" for one of the 12 jurors to continue. The trial judge thanked the juror for their attendance during the trial over the past 10 months, and he was sorry they were unable to continue.
On the morning of Friday, August 4, the judge told the remaining 11 jurors that some of them had been operating under a "false premise" that the court would not be sitting next week, with three of the jurors having made appointments or commitments for that time.
He said he would not be "unsympathetic" if rearranging those appointments was "impossible", but those jurors should make efforts to do so.
He added the jury should continue as a jury of 11, and give unanimous verdicts at this stage.
The jury was sent home for the weekend at 4pm on Friday, August 4, with the jury having deliberated for more than 71 hours.
The 11 jurors are expected to resume deliberations on Tuesday, August 8, with the judge telling the jury that, "for good reason", the court cannot sit on Monday.
The Standard will continue to provide news on any developments from court.
- For a complete index of our coverage on the trial, visit https://www.chesterstandard.co.uk/news/23152082.countess-nurse-lucy-letby-happened-trial-far/
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