Jurors in the retrial of Lucy Letby have been told her previous convictions should be taken into account as they are an “important piece of evidence”.

The former nurse at the Countess of Chester Hospital is on trial at Manchester Crown Court accused of the attempted murder of a baby girl, known as Baby K.

Opening the case for the prosecution, Nick Johnson KC, said her convictions last year for murdering seven babies and attempting to murder six others were “significant evidence as to what her intention was at the time that we allege she did something to [Baby K]”.

Ms Letby, of Hereford, who was present in court, denies attempting to murder an infant on 17 February 2016.

Mr Johnson added: “In a nutshell, we say that her status as a multiple murderer and attempted murderer is an important piece of evidence that you should take into account when you are considering whether we have proved that she was trying to kill Baby K.”

Ms Letby pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of the baby girl at the hospital’s neonatal unit.

The jury at her previous trial had been unable to reach a verdict on the charge.

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