Beverly Allitt

[Sleeepdeprived]

The similarities between Beverly Allitt and Lucy Letby are striking. Quite rightly, Lucy Letby received 14 whole life orders and will die in prison, whereas Beverly Allitt received 13 life sentences meaning she only needs to serve a minimum of 30 years in prison. She was sentenced in 1993 so is already eligible for release on parole.

BA was convicted of 4 counts of murder, 5 counts of attempted murder and 6 counts of GBH on babies, using the same methods as LL - injecting insulin and air. Absolutely awful.

AIBU to think her sentence should be changed to a whole life order and she should also be made to die in prison alongside LL?

*BA obviously not BV

As other a say i.doubt she will.ever be released when somebody is detained in a special hospital it doesn't matter how long the original sentence was for its up.to.the.psychiatrists to.deem wether she's well enough to be released and I can't see that happening ,who.would take the chance?

She won't be though, will she? Isn't she in a secure mental hospital and not getting parole?

Oops page didn't load properly so I didn't say all the wise replies saying the same as me 😄

That's not how sentencing and the criminal justice system works. She was sentenced in light of her crimes and all the surrounding circumstances at the time. You cannot retrospectively change an offender's sentence based on factors totally unrelated to them and their crimes.

I think it has been covered by other posters but these two cases are very different.

BA is currently held under section at Rampton hospital and, although she may be eligible for parole relating to her original sentence this doesn't mean it will be considered as the MH section takes presidence. As she hasn't been moved from high secure high secure to medium it is likely she is deemed a risk and wouldn't be released any time soon to " walk the streets". BA has a long history of MH problems where as I don't think LL has ( although prison assessment etc may show something).

Both cases are awful and I can't imagine what the families of victims are going through but they are different. The LL case has thrown the spot light on cases such as BA which must be heartbreaking for anyone concerned.

There was significant evidence of mental health issues in BA for years before her arrest.

Since adolescence there'd been evidence of disordered eating, self-harm, faking injuries and illnesses, persistent lying and making up dramatic stories.

Numerous family members, friends, colleagues and a boyfriend related numerous stories dating back years. The reason she became a state enrolled nurse and not a registered nurse was because of excessive time off sick with fictitious illnesses. She even had her appendix removed which was then found to be healthy by pathology.

There's no doubt BA had a significant and worrying history of mental health symptoms for years before the crimes.

LL does not.

At the time of Beverly Allitt's sentencing in 1993 the only person who could give a whole life tariff was the Home Secretary - not a judge! The judge in BA's case gave the maximum sentence that was available at the time.

But don't let that interrupt your criticism of the 'cowardly judge'.

It's very unlikely that BA will ever be released. She is in Rampton. She would have to prove herself sane first and then would be likely to moved to a prison for "rehabilitation." She's not going to do that. She's got a cushy number

Yep I know all that. I also know a lot of people saw those instances as signs of attention seeking behaviour rather than true mental illness. But of course there’s a discussion to be had there whether someone who engages in severe attention seeking behaviour like that IS actually mentally unwell just by doing those things as it’s hardly normal behaviour is it?

No they don't.

A victim or a representative of a victim who has died cannot appeal against a sentence. If they feel a sentence is unduly lenient they can express those concerns to the Director of public prosecutions within 28 days of the sentence being imposed.

But they have no right of appeal.

@Sleeepdeprived judges aren’t employed to be “brave” or to bow to the braying mob. They’re paid to understand and work to the letter of the law which is what Allitt’s judge did 🙄.

'Attention seeking behaviour' is part of several mental illness diagnoses and the entire motivation for the factitious disorders which BA appeared to be suffering from.

'Attention seeking behaviour' by fabricating or inducing symptoms or illness or another is the mental illness.

No.its not normal behavior ,by all.accounts she exhibited some very questionable behaviour through out her life mental.illness covers a broad spectrum of conditions, there definitely signs of a disordered personality .

Stupid comment as it was only the Home Secretary that could impose a whole life sentence in 1993.

How about checking your facts before throwing nasty insults at people who are doing an incredibly difficult job. I really am fed up of ignorant people whipping themselves up into a frenzy and directing their anger in entirely the wrong places.

I would say you probably don't understand what you're talking about OP

I’m guessing OP won’t be back.

A whole life tariff has to fit certain criteria which Allit doesn't fit as she was considered to have migrating circumstances due to mental illness.

You can't just change someone's sentence that would be open for so much abuse.

She is likely to never be released from Rampton. She is eligible for parole now but I doubt it'll ever be granted as they would have to release her section.

I agree entirely with your point here.

Whenever these awful cases come to light and go to trial it drags out all the grief vultures and their pitchforks, baying for harsher sentences/torture in prisons/the death penalty/removal of human rights and more. Very few of them seem to be bothered about addressing underlying factors that could help prevent future occurrences and instead are focussed on a warped sense of vengeance. Vengeance isn't justice and knee-jerk, emotive reactions are not the sort of law-making we should be aspiring to as a society.

How about checking your facts before throwing nasty insults at people who are doing an incredibly difficult job. I really am fed up of ignorant people whipping themselves up into a frenzy and directing their anger in entirely the wrong places.

Quite. Shame it seems to be about 90% of the population.

She's likely been back, read about her own foolish thinking, hidden the thread and name changed!

This happens a lot tbh. Encouraging name changing is a big part of why that happens i think.

LL isn’t stupid and will no doubt get herself into Rampton one way or another. It’s definitely an easier ride than prison and then her parents can digest it all a little easier knowing their daughter was “unwell” and not “evil”. BA was most probably mad and bad. LL is just bad.