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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/jun/14/lucy-letby-plumber-tells-jury-of-sewage-leak-in-neonatal-unit
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| Plumber tells Lucy Letby trial of sewage leak in neonatal unit | Plumber tells Lucy Letby trial of sewage leak in neonatal unit |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Lorenzo Mansutti gives evidence after nurse suggested incident may have had role in unexplained baby deaths | Lorenzo Mansutti gives evidence after nurse suggested incident may have had role in unexplained baby deaths |
| A hospital plumber has told the trial of Lucy Letby that sewage spilled from a sink in the neonatal unit where she allegedly murdered babies, as he gave evidence for the defence. | A hospital plumber has told the trial of Lucy Letby that sewage spilled from a sink in the neonatal unit where she allegedly murdered babies, as he gave evidence for the defence. |
| Lorenzo Mansutti was the only person called to give evidence on behalf of the nurse, who denies murdering seven infants and attempting to murder 10 others at the Countess of Chester hospital. | |
| He gave evidence for about 25 minutes, during which time he confirmed Letby’s recollection of an incident she suggested may have contributed to the unexplained deaths of babies. | |
| Giving evidence last month, Letby, 33, said parts of the neonatal unit were “not a safe working environment” because there were “often plumbing issues”. | Giving evidence last month, Letby, 33, said parts of the neonatal unit were “not a safe working environment” because there were “often plumbing issues”. |
| She told jurors: “We used to have raw sewage coming out of the sinks [and] coming out on the floor in nursery one.” | She told jurors: “We used to have raw sewage coming out of the sinks [and] coming out on the floor in nursery one.” |
| Letby said the issues could have played a role in the unexplained deaths and collapses of babies as staff were unable to clean their hands. “It’s a contributory issue if the unit is dirty and staff were unable to wash their hands,” she said. | Letby said the issues could have played a role in the unexplained deaths and collapses of babies as staff were unable to clean their hands. “It’s a contributory issue if the unit is dirty and staff were unable to wash their hands,” she said. |
| Mansutti, who had worked as a plumber at the hospital since 1986, said he was contacted to give evidence a day or two after Letby told jurors about “raw sewage” spilling on the floor in the neonatal unit. | Mansutti, who had worked as a plumber at the hospital since 1986, said he was contacted to give evidence a day or two after Letby told jurors about “raw sewage” spilling on the floor in the neonatal unit. |
| He said he recalled that “foul water” had come out of a sink in the intensive care suite – as Letby had claimed – but that he believed it was the only time this happened as improvement works were carried out afterwards. | He said he recalled that “foul water” had come out of a sink in the intensive care suite – as Letby had claimed – but that he believed it was the only time this happened as improvement works were carried out afterwards. |
| Mansutti said he did not attend the incident himself and could not recall when it happened as there was no formal record of it on the hospital’s Datix risk management system. | Mansutti said he did not attend the incident himself and could not recall when it happened as there was no formal record of it on the hospital’s Datix risk management system. |
| He gave details of 11 other plumbing incidents in the same building in the year to June 2016, the period when Letby allegedly murdered babies. | He gave details of 11 other plumbing incidents in the same building in the year to June 2016, the period when Letby allegedly murdered babies. |
| Under cross-examination by the prosecutor, Nick Johnson KC, Mansutti accepted that about half of those issues happened in the labour suite and there would be “no consequences” on the neonatal unit. | Under cross-examination by the prosecutor, Nick Johnson KC, Mansutti accepted that about half of those issues happened in the labour suite and there would be “no consequences” on the neonatal unit. |
| Benjamin Myers KC confirmed there would be no further witnesses for the defence. He told the jury: “There’s the case for Miss Letby.” | Benjamin Myers KC confirmed there would be no further witnesses for the defence. He told the jury: “There’s the case for Miss Letby.” |
| The judge, Sir James Goss KC, told jurors they would begin considering their verdicts in three weeks. | The judge, Sir James Goss KC, told jurors they would begin considering their verdicts in three weeks. |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |