Lucy Letby has been found innocent of any wrongdoing in the deaths of infants under her care, as determined by a group of leading international experts in neonatology and child health. After reviewing the cases of 17 infants at the Countess of Chester Hospital, the experts concluded that all deaths and collapses had medical explanations.
Dr. Shoo Lee, president of the Canadian Neonatal Foundation, stated, “No murders were found. The deaths or injuries were attributed to natural causes or inadequate medical care.” Following this report, the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) has received an application from Letby’s legal team and is set to review the case. Calls for a retrial for Letby are also gaining momentum.
Former director of public prosecutions, Lord Macdonald, emphasized the significance of the expert report and cautioned that if accurate, it would discredit the prosecution’s case. Meanwhile, James Phillips, a former science adviser, advocated for Letby’s release, highlighting flaws in the legal system that may be delaying justice.
Despite being sentenced to 15 whole-life orders for the alleged murder of seven infants and attempted murder of others, doubts have arisen regarding the evidence presented during Letby’s trial. Her new barrister, Mark McDonald, expressed confidence that the CCRC’s review would lead to a positive outcome for Letby.
Dr. Lee revealed that several infants at the hospital had succumbed to substandard care, with medical oversights contributing to their deaths. He remarked that had the hospital been in Canada, it would have faced closure. The mother of one victim expressed dismay at the doubts surrounding Letby’s conviction, labeling the situation as disrespectful and upsetting.
The case of Lucy Letby has sparked a national conversation on the need for reform in the judicial system, with emphasis on ensuring justice and preventing miscarriages of justice.
Statements would be made public, whether they were favorable or unfavorable to Lucy. The individual mentioned their involvement in the Letby case when it was discovered that their research paper played a crucial role in the prosecution, albeit being misinterpreted. A panel of experts, including Prof. Neena Modi from Imperial College, concluded that there was no medical evidence supporting wrongdoing leading to death or injury in any of the 17 cases in the trial. They emphasized the importance of authorities taking their findings seriously due to their expertise. Lord Macdonald expressed deep concern over the troubling conclusions reached by the experts, highlighting the need to consider such views seriously. Calls for a retrial for Letby were made by Sir David Davis, citing the panel’s findings as astonishing and offering an alternative explanation for the deaths and collapses of the children involved. The Crown Prosecution Service noted that Letby was convicted by two juries, and the Court of Appeal had declined appeals based on the evidence presented. Investigations are ongoing into the deaths at the hospitals where Letby worked, with a public inquiry seeking to prevent similar incidents in the future. The Criminal Cases Review Commission emphasized their role in examining potential miscarriages of justice based on new evidence or argument. Downplaying the situation, a spokesperson for Downing Street reiterated the independence of the review process.
Investigating the case of a convicted serial killer, Sarah Knapton challenges the evidence presented. A group of 14 neonatologists, renowned experts with extensive medical and scientific backgrounds, have scrutinized the data related to Lucy Letby. Their collective assessment indicates that there were no murders committed, but rather the fragility of premature births, compounded by deficiencies in the baby unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital. This significant development suggests a need for a reevaluation of the case. Former Director of Public Prosecutions, Lord Macdonald, acknowledges the importance of the new evidence presented and emphasizes the need to take it seriously. The potential implications of this new information on the criminal justice system are profound, raising questions about the innocence of Lucy Letby and the validity of the initial conviction. Dr. Shoo Lee, one of the experts involved, shares his motivation for joining the case, driven by the belief in justice and the protection of individual lives. The press conference held regarding this matter is described as a “gamechanger” by Mark McDonald, Lucy Letby’s legal representative, underscoring the significance of the new revelations.
Today marks a historic occasion as a distinguished and credible group of experts from around the world have come together to acknowledge a significant issue. Mr. McDonald expressed that this development is unprecedented and could be a gamechanger. He emphasized his desire for the matter to be brought before the Court of Appeal by the summer.
During Dr. Lee’s presentation, the panel outlined key findings, including insufficient trained staff, lack of adequate training for nursing roles, staffing shortages, work overload, substandard plumbing, and drainage leading to the need for extensive cleaning. Other issues highlighted were poor environmental controls, difficulties in accessing medical professionals, overcrowding in medication areas, and inadequate sterile preparation facilities. The panel also raised concerns about high-risk infants being cared for in a lower-level institution due to bed shortages at higher-level facilities.
Following a question and answer session with journalists, the press conference concluded, shedding light on the need for expert consultation before criminal charges are pursued. McDonald, leading Letby’s legal team, stressed the importance of involving experienced professionals early in the process to prevent miscarriages of justice.
McDonald further stated that they would soon appeal the conviction, citing overwhelming evidence of its unsafety. Dr. Lee expressed shock at the deficiencies observed in patient care, suggesting that a hospital with a similar record in Canada would be shut down.
The panel’s examination of the Countess of Chester Hospital revealed a range of failures, including incomplete medical histories, neglect of obstetric considerations, and misdiagnoses. They also noted unsafe delays in treatment, inadequate skills in lifesaving procedures, and poor supervision. These findings underscore the urgent need for systemic improvements in patient care.
Junior doctors lack skills in essential medical procedures such as intubation and insertion of chest tubes. They also demonstrate a lack of understanding in respiratory physiology, mechanical ventilation, and management of common neonatal conditions like hypoglycemia. Additionally, they exhibit insufficient knowledge about equipment used in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and fail to protect high-risk patients, such as those with hemophilia, during procedures. There is a lack of teamwork and trust among health professionals.
The panel, convened at 11:15 AM GMT, did not find evidence of murders. Dr. Lee stated that in all cases, deaths or injuries were attributed to natural causes or substandard medical care. He mentioned that there was no support for murder in the cases being reviewed, just natural causes and poor medical care. The full report will be forwarded to Lucy’s barrister for further action by the courts.
Contrary to previous beliefs, new data suggests that babies may not have been poisoned with insulin. Professor Geoff Chase highlighted that the readings used as evidence for poisoning were based on ratios from adults and children, not pre-term infants. The defense argued that the babies were poisoned, but not by Letby. It now seems that there was no poisoning involved at all.
The panel’s medical review revealed that several babies at the Countess of Chester hospital died due to suboptimal care. Instances such as failing to identify bacterial infections and improper insertion of medical lines led to preventable deaths. In one case, a baby developed a fatal blood clot due to a line being left in without proper care. Letby was accused of attempting to murder an infant by mishandling her tube, but the review indicated that the tube was never inserted correctly by a doctor.
Dr. Lee disputed the prosecution’s claim regarding skin discoloration, stating that it was incorrect. Dr. Shoo Lee, a reputable Canadian neonatologist, gave evidence on each of the cases, with his research paper being a focal point in the prosecution’s argument about air embolisms causing some deaths.
During the Letby case, doctors noted a skin discoloration where the skin turned blue with bright pink blood vessels visible. This was a key observation in some of the Letby babies. However, the prosecution failed to consult with Dr. Lee to verify their understanding of his research, which turned out to be incorrect. Dr. Lee later discovered that injecting air into a vein does not produce the observed skin pattern. He stated during a recent press conference that such a phenomenon had never been documented before. The report aims to provide families with a true account of what occurred.
Dr. Lee expressed sympathy for the families of the deceased babies, acknowledging their distress and anguish. He emphasized that their intention is not to cause further pain but to offer clarity and reassurance by revealing the truth of the matter. Dr. Lee encouraged families to reach out with any questions or concerns they may have.
The panel includes experts such as Ann Stark, a Professor at Harvard University, and Professor Mikael Norman from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, who reviewed the latest medical evidence.
The presence of Professor Neena Modi on the panel is significant for Letby’s defense team. Prof. Modi, a respected academic at Imperial College and past president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, brings credibility to claims of a possible miscarriage of justice if she identifies issues with the medical evidence.
A press conference was held where Barrister Mark McDonald, Sir David Davis MP, and retired medic Dr. Shoo Lee discussed the case, describing Letby’s convictions as a major injustice. Letby’s legal team has applied to the Criminal Cases Review Commission to investigate a potential miscarriage of justice.
The CCRC is assessing the application and expects further submissions. While they do not determine innocence or guilt, their role is to investigate and potentially refer cases of miscarriage of justice to the courts based on new evidence or arguments. The focus remains on considering the impact on the affected families and ensuring a fair review of the case.
As there is a real possibility that a conviction may not be upheld or a sentence reduced, it is uncertain how long it will take to review this application at this point. The trials of Ms. Letby involved a substantial amount of complex evidence that was presented to the court.
The CCRC operates independently, not beholden to the government, courts, police, prosecution, or any individuals seeking a case review. This impartiality allows for the thorough investigation of alleged miscarriages of justice.
Despite facing two rejections in her appeals, Letby continues to maintain her innocence. Last year, she attempted to challenge her convictions at the Court of Appeal for seven murders and seven attempted murders in May, as well as for the attempted murder of a baby girl in October. At the first appeal, her request to introduce fresh evidence from Dr. Lee was denied by three senior judges who found no expert evidence supporting the diagnosis of air embolism based solely on skin discoloration.
Dr. Lee has recently updated his academic paper, revealing that skin discoloration is not typically associated with air embolism through the venous system. Letby’s defense team is preparing to unveil “significant new medical evidence” from 14 prominent neonatal experts regarding the convictions’ safety. Medical experts have already examined the baby deaths, concluding that at least two infants died from natural causes.
A press conference is scheduled to take place in central London today, where Dr. Shoo Lee, a Canadian neonatologist whose work was referenced in the original trial, will speak. Dr. Lee is expected to address the misuse of his work by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). The conference is set to commence at 10 am.
Welcome to the blog, where we provide coverage of today’s press conference featuring the presentation of “significant new medical evidence” in Lucy Letby’s case. Delve into award-winning British journalism and experience The Telegraph for free for one month, offering unlimited access to our acclaimed website, exclusive app, money-saving deals, and more.
