Lucy Letby, who was found guilty of murdering seven babies and attempting to kill seven more at the Countess of Chester hospital, is asking for the public inquiry examining her crimes to be halted immediately. Her legal team has presented what they say is “overwhelming and compelling” evidence that questions the validity of her convictions, suggesting that the inquiry running from September should pause while the evidence is reviewed by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC).
The lawyers for the former nurse claim this evidence, gathered by a team of 16 specialists from seven countries, constitutes “the largest forensic expert neonatal review ever undertaken.” The team concludes that there is no proof of wrongdoing by Letby and points to numerous errors made by medical staff on the neonatal unit.
The inquiry, led by Lady Justice Thirlwall, is set to conclude this Wednesday, and Letby’s team argues that proceeding without incorporating the new review could lead to a flawed, unreliable final report. They also suggest that any conclusions drawn without this evidence would not only undermine the inquest but also waste the £10 million already spent.
Cheshire constabulary has launched an investigation into other hospital staff, probing potential corporate manslaughter charges, though they’ve insisted this separate inquiry will not affect Letby’s existing convictions. The inquest is also looking into non-fatal collapses and deaths of other infants at the Countess of Chester and Liverpool Women’s hospitals from 2012 to 2016.
Lady Justice Thirlwall acknowledged receipt of the letter from Letby’s new law firm, indicating she would circulate it to all parties involved in the inquiry, including the health secretary and the families of the affected babies. Individual requests to pause the inquiry were also received from former executives at the Countess of Chester, adding another layer of complexity and pending input from the executives’ representatives later in the week. The letter has also been sent to Wes Streeting, the health secretary.
The final Thirlwall report, originally scheduled for release this year, is now in doubt as the multiple pleas for suspension of the inquiry could recomplicate the timeline.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/mar/17/lucy-letby-calls-for-public-inquiry-into-baby-deaths-to-be-halted
