Review launched into Lucy Letby case after experts challenge evidence
On Tuesday, her legal team applied to the independent Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) to examine whether there had been a possible miscarriage of justice in her trials in 2023 and 2024.
Letby, 35, is serving 15 whole-life sentences for the deaths of babies at neo-natal units in northwest England between 2015 and 2016.
A REVIEW has been launched into the case of Lucy Letby, a nurse sentenced to life imprisonment for killing seven newborn babies, as medical experts argue there was no evidence to support her conviction.
Letby, 35, is serving 15 whole-life sentences for the deaths of babies at neo-natal units in northwest England between 2015 and 2016. She was convicted of murdering seven newborns and attempting to kill seven others at the Countess of Chester Hospital, making her the most prolific child serial killer in modern UK history.
On Tuesday, her legal team applied to the independent Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) to examine whether there had been a possible miscarriage of justice in her trials in 2023 and 2024.
Letby maintains her innocence and was accused of harming the babies using various methods, including injecting air into their bloodstreams, leading to sudden and unexpected collapses.
Shoo Lee, a retired Canadian doctor whose 1989 academic paper on air embolism was cited in Letby's 10-month trial, told a press conference that the evidence presented against her was flawed.
"The evidence that was used to convict her was wrong and for me that is a problem," he said, adding that Letby had exhausted all appeals.
He was speaking in London alongside an international panel of 14 independent experts in neonatal care, who concluded that their findings did not support murder in any of the cases.
Letby’s lawyer, Mark McDonald, described Tuesday’s evidence as having "demolished" the medical findings used in her trial.'Major injustice'
A CCRC spokesperson confirmed that a preliminary application had been received and that work had begun to assess it. The commission has the power to refer cases back to the Court of Appeal if it finds a possible miscarriage of justice.
"It is not for the CCRC to determine innocence or guilt ... that's a matter for the courts," the spokesperson said.
Instead, the commission’s role is to investigate and refer cases if new evidence suggests a conviction might not be upheld or a sentence could be reduced.
Former Conservative minister David Davis, who has raised concerns about Letby’s case in Parliament, described her convictions as "one of the major injustices of modern times."
Letby previously lost two appeals in 2023, with judges rejecting fresh evidence from Lee. They ruled that there had been no prosecution expert evidence diagnosing air embolus based solely on skin discolouration.
A public inquiry into the wider circumstances of the case began in September and is ongoing.
INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi celebrated Diwali with naval personnel aboard aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, describing it as a symbol of 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' (self-reliant India).
Modi arrived on Sunday (19) evening and boarded the home-built carrier off Goa's coast following a discreet journey. Onboard the vessel, he visited the flight deck surrounded by MiG 29K fighter aircraft and observed multiple takeoff and landing operations conducted both during daylight and darkness.
The programme included a performance by Navy officers and sailors who sang patriotic compositions. One song, specially written by personnel, commemorated Operation Sindoor's success by the Indian Armed Forces. Modi shared dinner with naval staff during the Bara Khana, engaging with members and their families.
On Monday (20) morning, the prime minister participated in a yoga session on deck and witnessed a flypast featuring warships and aircraft. He subsequently addressed the assembled personnel and distributed sweets.
Modi interacts with naval personnel aboard INS Vikrant. (Handout via PTI Photo)
"INS Vikrant is not merely a warship. It represents 21st-century India's work, talent and commitment," Modi said during his address.
He highlighted the strategic significance of Brahmos missiles, noting their international demand. Multiple countries now seek to purchase the systems, Modi added.
Reflecting on his experience, Modi said: "My night aboard INS Vikrant is difficult to convey. The energy you demonstrated was remarkable. When I heard you sing patriotic songs, particularly your account of Operation Sindoor, no words can fully express what a serviceman experiences on duty. My Diwali has been special spending it amongst you."
INS Vikrant, commissioned in 2022, is India's first home-built aircraft carrier and the nation's second operational carrier following INS Vikramaditya, which was constructed on a Russian platform. The vessel ranks as the largest warship built in India.
Modi has observed Diwali with the armed forces annually since 2014, continuing the tradition that connects political leadership with defence personnel during the festival.
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