live from london, this is bbc news. manchester united forward mason greenwood, who had charges of attempted rape and assault against him dropped, leaves the club. nurse lucy letby is sentenced to spend the rest of her life in prison — for murdering seven babies and attempting to kill six others. this was a cruel, calculated and cynical campaign of child murder, involving the smallest and most vulnerable of children. idid the i did the last hour, the moment lucy letby is driven away from manchester crown court to begin life behind bars —— and in the last hour.

hello, i'm rajini vaidyanathan. welcome to verified live — three hours of breaking stories, and checking out the truth behind them. we start with the confirmation that mason greenwood — that mason greenwood is leaving manchester united. charges against the 21—year—old forward, including attempted rape and assault, were dropped in february. manchester united issued a statement, saying: "all those involved, including mason, recognise the difficulties with him recommencing his career at manchester united. it has therefore been mutually agreed that it would be most appropriate for him to do so away from old trafford, and we will now work with mason to achieve that outcome." mason greenwood has been subject to an internal investigation which has concluded. he's also issued a statement, saying: "i was brought up to know that violence or abuse in any relationship is wrong. i did not do the things i was accused of, and in february, i was

cleared of all charges. however, ifully accept i made mistakes in my relationship, and i take my share of responsibility for the situations which led to the social media post. i am learning to understand my responsibilities to set a good example as a professional footballer, and i'm focused on the big responsibility of being a father, as well as a good partner. today's decision has been part of a collaborative process between manchester united, my family and me." that concludes his statement. let's talk to olly foster, at the bbc sport centre. the charges against mason greenwood were cleared in february, then manchester united opened up its own investigation and now today, the statement that mason greenwood is leaving the club.— leaving the club. yes, manchester united are under— leaving the club. yes, manchester united are under a _ leaving the club. yes, manchester united are under a lot _ leaving the club. yes, manchester united are under a lot of - leaving the club. yes, manchester united are under a lot of pressure | united are under a lot of pressure to come to a decision. they hoped to achieve that before the start of the season. go back to last week and the opening round of fixtures, there were protests at old trafford.

because there was every indication manchester united were going to reintegrate mason greenwood into their squad. at various female fans groups were strongly opposed to that and protested. so there was no announcement last week. now we have had this lengthy statement of which manchester united have talked about how they have gone about this fact—finding mission for the last seven months, since the crown prosecution service dropped all charges of attempted rape, coercive and controlling behaviour and also assault against mason greenwood. they have said they have had to keep a lot of it confidential to protect the continuing anonymity of the alleged victim, relating to those charges. one female fans group has come out on social media, the female fans against the return of mason greenwood, they said. they say

manchester united have done the right thing to save their necks and avoid the pr disaster, not out of care for us, they have lied and backtracked and ignored us until they feared for their own reputations. there will certainly be relieved amongst fans groups that a decision has been made, but the process has dragged on for an awful long time, especially when they feared mason greenwood would be reintegrated into the squad. but now we have this mutual agreement between all parties that he will continue his football career elsewhere. he still has two years left on his contract, it only expires in 2025. so the option would be for manchester united to loan out mason greenwood or to sell him. we still have another week or so left in the transfer window so that is the timeframe that we are dealing with. but the exact terms of his contract and what they have done with it are not clear at the moment. that is remaining confidential as

well. but certainly, we understand that the club will not in any way expect mason greenwood to ever play for them again. expect mason greenwood to ever play for them again-— for them again. where does this leave his footballing _ for them again. where does this leave his footballing career - for them again. where does this| leave his footballing career now? the own thing —— the only thing he has ever known is manchester united, joining the club at the age of seven and coming through their age groups, he was the youngest scorer of all—time in european competition at the age of 17 and also progressed very quickly through the england age groups. he won one cap. gareth southgate calling him very much a of the future for the international setup as well. he is still only 21. so he has another decade of football, he is a very, very talented player indeed. but in the same way that manchester united have wrestled with what they have been going through and what to do with mason greenwood over the last seven months about longer come up with their internal investigation since

february, so any other potential buyers or club will look —— who look to get him onto their books will have to go through the same moral questions as well, perhaps. {lillie questions as well, perhaps. ollie foster, thank _ questions as well, perhaps. ollie foster, thank you _ questions as well, perhaps. ollie foster, thank you very _ questions as well, perhaps. ollie foster, thank you very much for bringing us that update on this breaking story. let's bring in sarah shephard, a sports writer at the athletic. it is good to have you here this afternoon. what is the reaction to the statement today from mason greenwood and of course for manchester united itself? thanks for havin: me. manchester united itself? thanks for having me- i — manchester united itself? thanks for having me. i think— manchester united itself? thanks for having me. i think my _ manchester united itself? thanks for having me. i think my reaction - manchester united itself? thanks for having me. i think my reaction is - having me. i think my reaction is one not of surprise because i think given the public backlash that we have seen since we broke the story last week that his return was on the cards, i think that public backlash was getting harder and harder to ignore and the pressure was simply increasing on manchester united and it became hard to see how they could continue with that plan. so i am not

surprised that they have made a u—turn. i am surprised that they have made a u—turn. iam pleased surprised that they have made a u—turn. i am pleased that they have done that. the statement is obviously long. it is interesting in terms of what is next for mason greenwood. in the statement from mason himself is the first time we have heard from him so that is also interesting to hear his views and his position on everything. but i'm not surprised- _ his position on everything. but i'm not surprised. you _ his position on everything. but i'm not surprised. you have _ his position on everything. but i'm not surprised. you have spoken i his position on everything. but i'm not surprised. you have spoken to| not surprised. you have spoken to female fans at the club and some of them have been protesting in recent months as well. about the fact that mason greenwood remains at the club. of course, charges against him were dropped in february. what do you think their reaction will be to today's news? i think their reaction will be to today's news?— think their reaction will be to today's news? think their reaction will be to toda 's news? ~ ., , , today's news? i think most will be very relieved- _ today's news? i think most will be very relieved. they _ today's news? i think most will be very relieved. they felt _ today's news? i think most will be very relieved. they felt they - today's news? i think most will be very relieved. they felt they were | very relieved. they felt they were in an impossible or very difficult position. on one hand, the club that they love and have supported some of them for 30 plus years was doing

something that they felt so uncomfortable with that they felt they had no choice but to walk away and not support them any more if they had gone ahead with his return. so i think there will a lot of relief notjust so i think there will a lot of relief not just from so i think there will a lot of relief notjust from women, but a lot of men as well who felt the same way. there are also some fans who were supportive of his return and will be disappointed. but the majority of female fans i spoke to when i went up to old trafford and i think it was march, they were very much against it and they felt they just couldn't stomach seeing him back on the field in a manchester united shirt. d0 back on the field in a manchester united shirt-— back on the field in a manchester united shirt. do you think that the club in the end _ united shirt. do you think that the club in the end sort _ united shirt. do you think that the club in the end sort of— united shirt. do you think that the club in the end sort of bowed - united shirt. do you think that the club in the end sort of bowed to i club in the end sort of bowed to pressure? because we were hearing even last week that there was an indication that there may be a way to keep mason greenwood at the club once the investigation concluded and the investigation says that they don't believe there is evidence to say that he is guilty of the kind of

accusations levelled against him. but he still is leaving.— but he still is leaving. yes, it is a complex _ but he still is leaving. yes, it is a complex situation. _ but he still is leaving. yes, it is a complex situation. it - but he still is leaving. yes, it is a complex situation. it always l but he still is leaving. yes, it is i a complex situation. it always has been from the start a very complex situation. some people say it is simple and it was an easy decision, but i think it has always been complex, given the way the charges were dropped, the social media posts, etc. it was never an easy thing for manchester united to do to make a decision on this. in their statement as you said is almost contradictory in some ways —— and their statement. contradictory in some ways —— and theirstatement. but contradictory in some ways —— and their statement. but they have reasoned it out by saying they feel it is best for mason greenwood and for manchester united and the players if they go their separate ways. it takes the focus away from mason, he can continue his career outside the glare of manchester united and it allows the club to progress with their season without

the negative publicity that we have already seen coming their way. so you can understand it.— already seen coming their way. so you can understand it. sorry, please car on, you can understand it. sorry, please carry on. i— you can understand it. sorry, please carry on. i thought _ you can understand it. sorry, please carry on, i thought you _ you can understand it. sorry, please carry on, i thought you had - carry on, i thought you had finished. carry on, i thought you had finished-— carry on, i thought you had finished. ., , ., finished. you can understand it in some ways. _ finished. you can understand it in some ways. but _ finished. you can understand it in some ways, but i _ finished. you can understand it in some ways, but i agree _ finished. you can understand it in some ways, but i agree it - finished. you can understand it in some ways, but i agree it is - finished. you can understand it in some ways, but i agree it is a - some ways, but i agree it is a fairly contradictory statement. you have finished _ fairly contradictory statement. you have finished now and it is great to speak to you about this issue so thank you very much forjoining us. sarah shephard, a sports writer. earlier, i spoke to david challen who, in 2019, successfully led a campaign to free his mother, sally, from prison. david has since become a campaigner against domestic abuse. i asked him for his reaction. really, this isjust a culmination of the decision that's exposed the failure by a football club to tackle sexual violence and really expose the need for an independent authority or a body to take on this responsibility. because this investigation has been happening for six months, it's been dragged on, they've been leaking bits part by part, they've lied, they've backtracked

to female fans against greenwood's return, the protest groups that female fans have been saying. i've been speaking about these issues since march, since the leaks happened, with fans. i am a fan of man united. i am a survivor of abuse. i've spoken to two survivors of abuse, who have thought and seen the idea of having a man tied to this audio walk onto the pitch, adorned with his name on the back, to see kids cheering him. parents who've spoken to me about the difficulty of explaining that to their children. and that the club have not even consulted domestic abuse charities throughout the whole investigation is absolutely abhorrent. it's disgusting, and it really exposes the failure of club bosses, of richard arnold — the ceo, the glazers. and going so far as to label these charities, these amazing charities that do great work, as "hostile", and creating a void in the conversation for people to make up gas—lighted responses to this audio, of which they have just done with this audio by saying

it's not the full extent of the evidence. what more evidence does anyone really need to listen to that audio and make their own assumptions? he has been cleared of all charges, i think that's really important to say, there's a duty of care to this player to move on with his life. but that is away from the pinnacle of world football that is, for many players, manchester united. it's a horrific, sad day. this will be turned over again and again, as it should be, and picked up on. this is notjust an issue with one club, it's endemic across all clubs. and they're reviewing their policies of domestic abuse. and mandatory consent training for sexual consent is not going ahead, as put in place by the premier league from last season. only half the clubs have reported back saying they're doing it. this is a wider issue. but really, let's just focus on the absolute mismanagement of manchester united. my club. a club that many, 690 million fans who are watching, taking cues for how we tackle male violence against women, against women and girls. and it'sjust abhorrent, really.

nurse lucy letby — the most prolific killer of children in modern british history — will spend the rest of her life in prison. she's been given a whole life order, a sentence reserved for perpetrators of the most serious crimes. that's by a judge at manchester crown court. he said letby had engaged in a "cruel, calculated and cynical campaign of child murder". letby refused to appear in the dock, so she was not present for the statements made in court by bereaved families about the impact of the crimes or the sentencing itself by mrjustice goss. lucy letby, on each of the seven offences of murder and the seven offences of attempted murder, i sentence you to imprisonment for life. because the seriousness of your offences is exceptionally high, i direct that the early release provisions do not apply. the order of the court, therefore, is a whole life order

on each and every offence, and you will spend the rest of your life in prison. well, as we've been reporting, letby�*s refusal to appear in the dock at the sentencing has prompted significant controversy. so, has the government been too slow to change the law to force offenders to attend their sentencing hearings? that was the question put to prime minister rishi sunak a little earlier. i think the first thing is to extend my sympathies to everyone affected by this. i think, like everyone reading about this, it is just shocking and harrowing. now, i think it's cowardly that people who commit such horrendous crimes do not face their victims and hear first—hand the impact that their crimes have had on them and theirfamilies and loved ones. we are looking, and have been, at changing the law to make sure that that happens, and that's something that we will bring forward in due course. should hospital managers be as accountable as doctors and nurses? well, we're setting up an inquiry that will

look into everything that happened in this case and it's important that that inquiry, first and foremost, gets the answer that families need, ensures that we can learn the lessons from what happened, is conducted transparently, and happens as quickly as possible. so that's the inquiry that we'll set up and to make sure that we deliver on those objectives. on that inquiry, should we have a judge—led statutory inquiry? well, i think the important thing for the inquiry to do is make sure that families get the answers that they need. that it is possible for us to learn the lessons from what happened. everything conducted transparently, and to happen as quickly as possible. those are the objectives that we want for the inquiry and we'll make sure that it's set up to deliver on those aims. well, my thoughts are with the victims�* families and the anger and frustration that i know they feel at the fact that she won't face justice in the way that she should. when i was director of public prosecutions, i saw for myselfjust how important it is for families to see the defendant in the dock

being sentenced, it's an integral part of the way that we do justice in this country. now, this isn't the first case, we've had other cases, the olivia case up in liverpool, and other cases where this has happened. i think that we should change the law. we've made an open offer to the government. if they come forward with the proposal to change the law, we will support it. i think they reallyjust need now to get on with it, so thatjustice can be seen to be done. labour leader keir starmer responding as well. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. a bbc investigation has revealed that a black hole in local authority budgets continues to grow. information provided by 190 authorities across the uk revealed council leaders were predicting a shortfall of around £5 billion by april 2026.

that's even after making £2.5 billion of cuts. the government said funding for councils beyond the next financial year has not yet been decided. a cargo ship fitted with giant rigid sails the size of aircraft wings has embarked on its maiden voyage from china to brazil. it's hoped the british—designed technology, which uses the wind to help propel the vessel, will reduce carbon emissions by up to 30% and help tackle climate change. former radio 2 presenter chris evans has revealed he has been diagnosed with skin cancer. he announced the news on his virgin radio show this morning, after returning from time off. he said the mark on his leg would be removed next month, and he urged others to get themselves checked. some of the other stories we have been looking at here on bbc news. you're live with bbc news. anna foster was at manchester crown court a little earlier and told us more about what the families had said when they spoke at the sentencing.

well, each of them, rajini, were able to make what is called a victim impact statement. and this is a really important part of the whole legal process. because if you think about the trial that has been going on for almost ten months, the points at which those parents got to actually address the court were during sessions of evidence. so they would be asked questions by the prosecution and the defence. and really, they were only able to reply factually, in relation to those questions. but what the parents could do today was actually really say everything that they wanted to say. they were able to talk about the extraordinary emotional toll that this took on them. because of course, bear in mind that these were parents of already very sick premature children, who were going through the ordeal of those babies being treated in the neonatal unit at the countess of chester hospital, they were already very sick. then for those babies to die or, in some cases, have events which almost led to their deaths — as we know, in some cases, medics were able to revive those babies —

but then to find out that a nurse who was so central to their care had murdered them. in fact, some of those victim impact statements today reflected on those particular moments. how close the woman who killed their children was to their final moments. the mother of baby c talked about the fact that she wears the handprints and footprints of baby c around her neck, and knowing lucy letby was the one who took those hand and footprints from her child after the baby had died. another parent talked about the fact that lucy letby was the one who bathed and dressed her child — again, after death, before the child was buried. and all of these memories, memories that should have been precious moments, have been tainted by the presence of lucy letby. so really, a lot of that was very difficult to hear. we talked about the impact on surviving siblings, on babies who'd survived those murder attempts. and on the families as well and the impact it had on marriages, mental health, really

the long—running ordeal, which is hard for any of us who haven't been in that situation to understand, to imagine. we gotjust the smallest insight into that in court this morning, before that sentence was passed. as we've been hearing, lucy letby refused to appear in court to hear her sentencing. zara aleena was murdered in east london last year. her and said the sentencing would have been the murderer�*s opportunity to be human and faces actions. she said his absence was a slap in the face. nine—year—old schoolgirl 92 macro was shot by a massed gunman inside her home. her mother cheryl said the fact her family had to relive olivia's death and the offender could choose to up out of the sentencing was a kick in the

teeth —— olivia pratt—korbel. 28—year—old sabina nessa was murdered in a park in london. her older sister called the murderer who refused to appear a coward. we can't talk to the aunt of zara aleena who was murdered in east london last year and herfamily were unable was murdered in east london last year and her family were unable to face her murderer after he refused to attend the sentencing in court. thank you very much forjoining us in the most difficult of circumstances and once again, we are really sorry for your family's loss. tell us about your reaction today and the fact that today, lucy letby did not turn up for her sentencing hearing, how did you and yourfamily feel about that? it hearing, how did you and your family feel about that?— feel about that? it was a reminder to us what — feel about that? it was a reminder to us what happened _ feel about that? it was a reminder to us what happened to _ feel about that? it was a reminder to us what happened to us - feel about that? it was a reminder to us what happened to us and - feel about that? it was a reminderj to us what happened to us and the other families that we now know who

have experienced the same. and we really felt for the families today who would have presented their personal, their impact statements to an empty box. and i know that when i did that, itjust almost an empty box. and i know that when i did that, it just almost felt ludicrous to do it, because i wondered who the impact statement was for. and i know that i had written it with my family, with the intention of him hearing it. and it wasn't that we would get comfort from that. it wasn't that we expected him to burst into tears from hearing our impact. why would we expect anything from somebody who

brutally murdered zara? but we wanted to just put it in front of him. zara it was a human being. you took her life for no reason. you just took it, you hurt her. and we wanted to say that to him, she was a human being, she had been a baby, she had been a child, she had been a young woman, she had aspirations. in a period of 12 minutes, this man just took that. and it is just a natural human need to confront the person that has aggrieved you, to want to look at them and say, this is what you did. whether they acknowledge it or not. that is when you have some sense of, we are never going to get closure, we don't have closure, of course we don't have closure, of course we don't have closure because there is no reason for what he did, there is no

explanation, there is no sense to it. and our lives are in tatters. but we were going to get some sense of, a cake amid this bit is over now. and so when we had about what was happening today, it was a real sense of, how these families are going to feel —— ok, this bit is over now. not being able to address the person that has hurt them so much. that has destroyed them, that murdered their babies. how do they get through not being able to address her? and thejustice system, it is our representative, isn't it? it is why we don't live in cowboy land, we have said yes to the state, you have our mandate. you take care of the law and we will follow it. but if we are not involved in that

process, by not being able to confront that person in those few moments when there is an opportunity, then it sort of puts into question this is about. and should we start not expecting criminals to attend, murderers to attend their sentencing? and is that how we should move forward? from now on, courtrooms need not, that as victims, we need not see these people in that box? and what will that mean? so many questions for us and so many thoughts about what happened today. and our hearts go out. to happened today. and our hearts go out. ., . , . happened today. and our hearts go out. ., . , ~ ., happened today. and our hearts go out. ., . ,. ., ., happened today. and our hearts go out. ., . , . ., ., ., out. to the victims. we are going to leave ou out. to the victims. we are going to leave you there _ out. to the victims. we are going to leave you there and _ out. to the victims. we are going to leave you there and say _ out. to the victims. we are going to leave you there and say goodbye - out. to the victims. we are going to leave you there and say goodbye to | leave you there and say goodbye to viewers watching around the world on bbc news. but here in the uk, we are going to continue to speak to you. so about our viewers watching on bbc

news. —— so goodbye to our viewers. and you were talking aboutjust wanting to be able to look zara's murder in the eye when you read your statement out. we heard some very distressing testimony from some of the families of the babies who were killed by lucy letby, in court today. how was it for you standing there and reading out your statement, not able to lock the murderer in the eye? you statement, not able to lock the murderer in the eye? you know, i was in two minds- — murderer in the eye? you know, i was in two minds. all _ murderer in the eye? you know, i was in two minds. all the _ murderer in the eye? you know, i was in two minds. all the time. _ murderer in the eye? you know, i was in two minds. all the time. one, - murderer in the eye? you know, i was in two minds. all the time. one, i - in two minds. all the time. one, i wanted the process to be over for my family. i didn't want it to linger. i didn't want to wait for him to come into the courtroom any more. i was grateful that the judge said,

ok, he's not coming, let's not waste any more time, let's get on with it. so there was one part of me that was grateful, that he was caught and he was sentenced, he was going to be given life for life. one part of me was really grateful. another part of me, the very human part of me, the nonthinking part of me that says, why am i not entitled to look at this man in the face and tell him what he has done to us? because we will never have this opportunity again. that was our moment, that was the opportunity and why isn't the law facilitating that for us? find law facilitating that for us? and now, we law facilitating that for us? and now. we are — law facilitating that for us? and now, we are hearing from the prime minister that they are going to look into a change in the law. how do you feel about that? because you have been calling for this change for many months. been calling for this change for many months-_ been calling for this change for many months. yes, i have been campaigning- —

many months. yes, i have been campaigning- at— many months. yes, i have been campaigning. at the _ many months. yes, i have been campaigning. at the beginning l many months. yes, i have been l campaigning. at the beginning of many months. yes, i have been - campaigning. at the beginning of my campaign, ithink campaigning. at the beginning of my campaign, i think i said, i was quoted, to drag them in. kicking and screaming. i don't actually spouse to forcing offenders into the courtroom. i am to forcing offenders into the courtroom. iam really to forcing offenders into the courtroom. i am really glad that the prime minister has now said, yes, we are going to move ahead with this. but actually, in march, dominic rob said they would move ahead with it. —— dominic raab. alexander chalke said they would move ahead with it. so i am not sure how to take it now that the prime minister has said they are going to move ahead with it, i am they are going to move ahead with it, iam not they are going to move ahead with it, i am not sure how to take that or whether to believe it. the question for me is, when? and i think it needs some careful thought. because i don't think we force them in, but i think we can manipulate and persuade. not in a malicious way, butjust as we already do in

our case, the man who murdered zara, he was advised, plead guilty and you will get five years taken from your tariff. so he did that. so i would argue that he should be told, don't attend the court room, you get that five years back on. so they can be manipulated and persuaded, they don't have to be dragged in kicking and screaming and we don't, we need and screaming and we don't, we need a distinction between ourselves and murderers. we need it to be different. we need to be different. so i think it has to be done in a different way. in the case of letby, where there is no tariff, where there was a life sentence, i feel really sad that the court proceedings were not streamed into her cell and she wasn't forced to watch or listen. she should have been. she should have been forced to watch or listen.—

watch or listen. farah naz, thank ou so watch or listen. farah naz, thank you so much _ watch or listen. farah naz, thank you so much for— watch or listen. farah naz, thank you so much for sharing - watch or listen. farah naz, thank you so much for sharing your- you so much for sharing your thoughts on that story, it is a privilege to have you on bbc news. you are watching bbc news. this is bbc news, the headlines... nurse lucy letby is sentenced to spend the rest of her life in prison — for murdering seven babies — and attempting to kill six others. manchester united forward mason greenwood — who had charges of attempted rape and assault against him dropped — leaves the club. southern california is hit by torrential rain — in the first tropical storm there for 80 years — a state of emergency is declared.

lucy letby will spend the rest of her life in prison. she has lucy letby will spend the rest of her life in prison. she has been given a whole life order, a sentence reserved for the perpetrators of the most serious crimes, passed by a judge at manchester crown court. it was said she had to engage in a cool was said she had to engage in a cool, calculating and cynical campaign of child murder. letby refused to appear in the dock so she didn't hear statements by bereaved families, nor did she hit the sentencing itself. fin families, nor did she hit the sentencing itself.— families, nor did she hit the sentencing itself. on the seven offences of— sentencing itself. on the seven offences of attempted - sentencing itself. on the seven offences of attempted murder, j sentencing itself. on the seven l offences of attempted murder, i sentence — offences of attempted murder, i sentence you to imprisonment for life. because of the seriousness of your offences is exceptionally high, i your offences is exceptionally high, i direct— your offences is exceptionally high, i direct that the early release provisions do not apply. the order of the _ provisions do not apply. the order of the court. — provisions do not apply. the order of the court, therefore, is a whole life order— of the court, therefore, is a whole life order on — of the court, therefore, is a whole life order on each and every offence. _ life order on each and every offence, and you will spend the rest offence, and you will spend the rest of your— offence, and you will spend the rest of your life — offence, and you will spend the rest of your life in prison. that

offence, and you will spend the rest of your life in prison.—