A NURSE from Hereford has been remanded in custody after appearing via videolink at Warrington Magistrates’ Court charged with the murder of eight babies and the attempted murder of 10 others.

Lucy Letby has appeared in court for a brief 10-minute hearing accused of the murder of eight babies and the attempted murder of 10 others.

Letby, 30, appeared at Warrington Magistrates’ Court via videolink from Blacon police station in Chester.

Only two members of the press were allowed into the courtroom, with a dozen more in an annexe courtroom next door, watching via videolink.

Families of the victims were also watching the proceedings via the same link at remote locations.

District Judge Sanders warned there should be no audio or video recordings of the proceedings.

The court clerk then dialled into Blacon police station, Chester, to see Letby, partly shadowed, sat with her solicitor, Richard Thomas, waiting for proceedings to begin.

The judge, addressing the defendant, said: “Today’s court hearing is for a number of matters. I won’t be taking any plea today, as I’m sure Mr Thomas has discussed with you.

“These are matters allocated to the crown court, today is a preliminary hearing to send to the crown court.”

Letby spoke in a strong, clear voice only to confirm her name, date of birth and her home address in Hereford.

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District Judge Nicholas Sanders imposed an order restricting the reporting of the names of the surviving babies subject to the attempted murder charge.

It took just over two-and-a-half minutes for him to read out all the charges but no pleas were entered and Letby was remanded into custody to appear at Chester Crown Court at 2.15pm on Friday.

Letby, of Arran Avenue, Hereford, faces eight counts of murder and 10 charges of attempted murder relating to the period of June 2015 to June 2016.

The eight counts of murder are of a victim under one year old.

The 10 charges of attempted murder are each of potential victims under one year old, according to the court list.

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Pascale Jones, prosecuting, told the court: “It is the crown’s application for these matters to be sent to the crown court with a bail application to be determined. This court has no power to grant bail.”

Ms Jones added: “The crown will also stress there is substantial grounds to believe for her own protection this defendant should be remanded into custody.”

Letby will appear at Chester Crown Court for a further hearing on Friday.