Former executives at the Countess of Chester Hospital in northern England are calling for a halt to the ongoing inquiry into the murders committed by Lucy Letby, a nurse previously convicted of killing multiple infants. Lawyers representing these former administrators presented new evidence before the inquiry, asserting that it raises significant doubts about Letby's guilt in the tragic case.
During a recent session of the inquiry, attorney Kate Blackwell contended that recent discoveries indicate that the babies who died or experienced unexpected collapses in 2015 and 2016 may have succumbed to factors unrelated to any intentional harm. “The emergence of alternative explanations brings a legitimate concern that these deaths were not due to criminal actions but rather to inadequate clinical management or natural causes,” stated Ms. Blackwell. She emphasized that ignoring these alternative theories undermines the fundamental mission of a public inquiry to thoroughly and courageously probe the circumstances leading to these fatalities.
Lucy Letby, 35, served as a neonatal nurse at the Countess of Chester Hospital and was found guilty of murdering and attempting to murder 14 infants during two separate trials in 2023 and 2024. Although she has consistently claimed her innocence, the public inquiry announced by the UK's health secretary aimed to investigate how a serial killer could evade detection for so long.
It is significant to note that the inquiry was predicated on the premise of Letby's guilt, notwithstanding increasing scrutiny surrounding her convictions. This scrutiny gained momentum following a detailed exposé published in the New Yorker last May, as well as criticism from numerous statisticians and medical professionals who questioned the legitimacy of the claims against her.
Recently, an independent panel of neonatal specialists revealed that their review found no credible evidence implicating Letby in any intentional harm against the infants in her care. Their evaluation concluded that the deaths and injuries were attributable to natural causes or inadequate medical care, according to Dr. Shoo Lee, the panel's chair. The ongoing inquiry now faces pivotal questions about its purpose and the initially accepted narrative surrounding Letby's actions.
