UK: Conservative MP Calls for Retrial in Case of Convicted Baby Killer Lucy Letby

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Facts

  • Conservative MP Sir David Davis has called for a retrial in the case of former nurse Lucy Letby, alleging there was a "clear miscarriage of justice" during a parliamentary debate on Wednesday.[1]
  • Letby, formerly a nurse in the Countess of Chester hospital's neonatal unit, was convicted in two trials of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven more in 2015 and 2016.[2][3]
  • Davis told the House of Commons that there was "no hard evidence" against Letby, and that "nobody saw her do anything untoward." He alleged that much of the prosecution relied on a "doctor's gut feeling" based on the fact she was on shift for a number, but not all, of the deaths.[4]
  • He further raised questions about the use of statistics in Letby's trials, claiming that since her conviction, he has been approached by a number of experts — including statisticians, neonatal specialists, forensic scientists, as well as employees of the hospital — that raised concerns with how the case was managed.[5]
  • Davis also noted that alleged evidence against the prosecution's case was available at the time of the trials but not raised during proceedings, meaning that a Court of Appeals can dismiss it.[4]
  • In response to Davis, Justice Minister Alex Davies-Jones said it was "an important principle of the rule of law" that the government did not interfere in judicial decisions. She added that Letby could apply to the Criminal Cases Review Commission if she believed she had been wrongfully convicted.[3][6]

Sources: [1]UK Parliament, [2]The Guardian, [3]The Telegraph, [4]BBC News, [5]Sky News and [6]The Mirror.

Narratives

  • Narrative A, as provided by BBC News and The Guardian. There are a growing number of experts that have come forward to question how evidence was presented in Letby's case. While it could still be the case that she was guilty of these crimes, the conviction itself was unsound and for the sake of justice, requires a deeper examination.
  • Narrative B, as provided by LBC. With the first trial spanning over 10 months, this was Britain's longest ever legal case. The judge and jury poured over the evidence in great detail before reaching a verdict. To question the decision undermines the legal system and is a great insult to the families whose children were killed.