My Take | Is this an appalling crime or an appalling miscarriage of justice?
A British nurse is behind bars for life after being convicted of killing seven babies. Now an expert panel has claimed there were ‘no murders’
The cold, calculated and callous murder of seven newborn babies by a nurse entrusted with their care is a crime of almost unimaginable cruelty.
Lucy Letby, 35, was also convicted of trying to kill another seven infants at a British neonatal unit – one on two occasions. She is serving 15 whole-life jail terms meaning she will never be released.
The evidence against her was circumstantial. But it was compelling enough to convince two juries. Doubts about the reliability of the verdicts have, however, lingered. This month, a panel of leading international experts, gathered by eminent Canadian neonatologist Dr Shoo Lee, dropped a bombshell.
After examining all the medical evidence, the panel concluded there were “no murders”. The babies had, they said, died or collapsed as a result of natural causes or poor medical care. It is an astounding claim.
David Davis, a member of parliament supporting the defence team, described the case “as one of the major injustices of modern times”.
Now, Letby’s lawyers have applied to the Criminal Cases Review Commission, which investigates potential miscarriages of justice, in a bid to have the case reopened.