From the Justice category

by Alex Ingram in Justice

On February 4, 2025, a press conference convened by Lucy Letby's barrister presented findings from an international panel of experts who challenge Letby's convictions for murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others at the Countess of Chester Hospital. The panel, led by Dr. Shoo Lee, a leading neonatologist, found no medical evidence to support the prosecution's claims of deliberate harm. Instead, they attributed the deaths and injuries to natural causes and inadequate medical care, citing staff shortages and sub-optimal care within the hospital's neonatal unit. Their findings directly contradict the prosecution's central allegation that Letby injected air into the babies' veins, with Dr. Lee stating that his research, misinterpreted by the prosecution, was used incorrectly. The panel's report, along with separate reports from other experts, casts doubt on the prosecution's evidence and raises concerns about the impartiality of key prosecution witnesses, particularly Dr. Dewi Evans, whose expert testimony faced severe criticism from a senior Court of Appeal judge. The case highlights significant flaws in the initial investigations, including delayed reporting of concerns by hospital staff and a lack of forensic evidence against Letby. While the Court of Appeal upheld the convictions, the panel's findings and the subsequent submission to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) raise serious questions about the safety of Letby's convictions and the possibility of a miscarriage of justice. The public inquiry, while acknowledging the concerns, has refused to review the convictions. The article concludes with Dr. Lee's statement that the convictions are unsafe and should be overturned, emphasizing the paramount importance of fair justice, even amidst the distress experienced by the families of the victims.


by Amanda Ireland in Justice

On February 4, 2025, a press conference was held questioning the conviction of Lucy Letby, a nurse found guilty of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others. Dr. Shoo Lee, a leading neonatologist, presented findings from an international panel of experts who found no medical evidence to support the prosecution's case. They cited inadequate staffing and care at the Countess of Chester hospital as contributing factors to the babies' deaths, and pointed to "categorical errors" in the use of a 30-year-old medical research paper that formed a basis for the prosecution's claim that Letby injected air into the babies' veins. The panel's findings directly contradict the prosecution's expert witness, Dr. Dewi Evans, whose impartiality has been heavily criticized. Concerns were raised about Dr. Ravi Jayaram, a key witness for the prosecution, whose testimony has been questioned for inconsistencies and potential perjury. Despite the panel's findings and the growing number of experts who disagree with the conviction, the Court of Appeal upheld Letby's conviction, and the public inquiry has refused to consider the possibility of a miscarriage of justice. The case raises serious questions about the integrity of the medical evidence, the potential for bias in expert testimony, and the handling of the investigation by Cheshire police. Letby's lawyers have submitted the panel's report to the Criminal Cases Review Commission, which will determine whether the case should be referred back to the Court of Appeal.