Former managers of the Countess of Chester Hospital have requested a suspension of the inquiry into the murders committed by nurse Lucy Letby, citing new evidence that challenges her guilt and points to poor clinical management and natural causes as potential explanations for the deaths of infants in her care.
Inquiry Into Lucy Letby Murders Faces Call for Suspension by Former Hospital Executives
Inquiry Into Lucy Letby Murders Faces Call for Suspension by Former Hospital Executives
The demand for a pause on the public inquiry into Lucy Letby’s neonatal murders arises as new evidence suggests alternative explanations for the deaths.
Former executives at the Countess of Chester Hospital in northern England have called for a suspension of the public inquiry into the murders committed by Lucy Letby, who was convicted for killing seven babies as a neonatal nurse. The request, made by lawyers representing these former senior managers, highlights new evidence that they assert questions her guilt.
Kate Blackwell, the legal representative for the hospital's former executives, addressed the inquiry, stating that the recent evidence indicates that the deaths and unexpected collapses of infants between 2015 and 2016 might not have been caused by intentional harm. "It seems plausible that these tragic outcomes could be due to poor clinical management, care, or natural medical conditions," Blackwell emphasized. She argued that continuing the inquiry without adequately addressing these new findings undermines its purpose of comprehensively investigating the circumstances surrounding these infant fatalities.
Lucy Letby, now 35, was sentenced after two trials in 2023 and 2024 where she was found guilty of murdering and attempting to murder 14 babies during her tenure in the neonatal unit. Throughout the proceedings, she has consistently declared her innocence. Following her conviction, an official public inquiry was established to unravel how such severe criminality went undetected for an extended period.
This inquiry initially rested on the premise of Letby’s guilt, but skepticism regarding her convictions has emerged. A significant turning point came last month when an independent group of neonatal experts concluded that there was no evidence to support Letby’s involvement in the deaths or injuries of the babies. According to Dr. Shoo Lee, who led the expert panel, all instances of death or injury could be traced to natural causes or substandard medical practices rather than any actions taken by Letby.
Kate Blackwell, the legal representative for the hospital's former executives, addressed the inquiry, stating that the recent evidence indicates that the deaths and unexpected collapses of infants between 2015 and 2016 might not have been caused by intentional harm. "It seems plausible that these tragic outcomes could be due to poor clinical management, care, or natural medical conditions," Blackwell emphasized. She argued that continuing the inquiry without adequately addressing these new findings undermines its purpose of comprehensively investigating the circumstances surrounding these infant fatalities.
Lucy Letby, now 35, was sentenced after two trials in 2023 and 2024 where she was found guilty of murdering and attempting to murder 14 babies during her tenure in the neonatal unit. Throughout the proceedings, she has consistently declared her innocence. Following her conviction, an official public inquiry was established to unravel how such severe criminality went undetected for an extended period.
This inquiry initially rested on the premise of Letby’s guilt, but skepticism regarding her convictions has emerged. A significant turning point came last month when an independent group of neonatal experts concluded that there was no evidence to support Letby’s involvement in the deaths or injuries of the babies. According to Dr. Shoo Lee, who led the expert panel, all instances of death or injury could be traced to natural causes or substandard medical practices rather than any actions taken by Letby.
