Killer nurse to serve 30-year term

Beverly Allitt, who was given 13 life sentences in 1993 for murdering and attacking young patients, was ordered to serve a minimum of 30 years - less the one year and 190 days she spent in custody before sentence - resulting in a tariff of 28 years and 175 days.

Although the trial judge had originally recommended a 30-year minimum, which the then Lord Chief Justice had agreed with, no Home Secretary had since determined the minimum to be served and, under new rules, that task is now carried out by a High Court judge.

Announcing his decision in Allitt's case, Mr Justice Stanley Burnton, sitting in London, said that in May 1993 Allitt, a state enrolled nurse, was found guilty of the murder of four young children, the attempted murder of a further three children and of causing grievous bodily harm with intent on a further six.

He said: "By her actions, what should have been a place of safety for its patients became not just a place of danger, but if not a killing field something close to it."

Young lives were cut short at their inception and the effect of the offences on all the families "must have been terrible" .

He added: "Each of the offences is an immense personal tragedy for the family concerned. They received a life sentence from which there is no remission, no release on licence."

All of the victims had been in Allitt's care in the paediatric ward of the Grantham and Kesteven General Hospital in Lincolnshire. The evidence at her trial suggested that she suffocated some of her victims and injected air or drugs into others. "These were multiple murders and attempted murders of young children whose lives were snuffed out almost before they had begun," said the judge.

Joanne and Chris Taylor, the parents of Allitt's first victim, seven-week-old Liam Taylor, were in court. Mrs Taylor, of Grantham, Lincolnshire, said she was pleased that the judge's thoughts were with all the children. "That's what we are here for - not just my child. He couldn't have done any more. He's done the best he can."

David Peck, of Newark, Nottinghamshire, the father of 15-month-old Claire who died in March 1991, said: "I'm absolutely delighted with the outcome - and pleased for the other families as well."