Experts Question Safety of Lucy Letby Conviction Amid Concerns Over Evidence

The conviction of Lucy Letby, a former neonatal nurse found guilty of murdering seven babies and attempting to kill six others, is being called “unsafe” by some experts who have raised concerns about the evidence presented during the trial.

Letby was convicted last year for her crimes at the Countess of Chester Hospital and was found guilty again last month at a retrial at Manchester Crown Court. However, questions have arisen regarding the accuracy and reliability of the evidence used to convict her.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) recently admitted that evidence showing when staff entered and left the neonatal unit was incorrect. Although the CPS stated that this evidence was corrected during the retrial, some experts remain unconvinced, told Daily Express.

Peter Green, a mathematics professor at Bristol University, told The Economist that the conviction is “unsafe.” Philip Dawid, a statistics professor at Cambridge University, echoed this sentiment, stating that the case “leaves a bad taste in the mouth.”

Before Letby’s trial, Professor Green and other experts co-authored a booklet titled “Healthcare Serial Killer or Coincidence?” In it, Green argues that the logic used in the prosecution, which relied on staff rotas to determine if Letby was on duty during the incidents, is flawed. He described this approach as “painting the target around the arrow.”

Much of the evidence used to convict Letby was based on statistical data and expert opinions on complex medical issues, which took considerable time to explain to the jury. The prosecution also presented notes written by Letby, including ones that said, “I AM EVIL I DID THIS” and “I killed them on purpose because I am not good enough,” which were argued to be confessions.

However, another note indicated Letby was distressed, stating, “Kill me right now … hate my life, fear, panic, despair, WHY ME? I haven’t done anything wrong.”

Critics of the conviction argue that not enough consideration was given to factors such as understaffing on the ward, poor practices, and the severe prematurity of the babies involved. During the trial, the parents of one of the babies who died described their experience in the hospital as “like something out of a horror story.” One mother questioned whether her child might still be alive if she hadn’t gone to bed that night, haunted by the knowledge that Letby was present during the tragedy.

Another parent expressed their hope that Letby would live a long life and suffer every day for what she had done. As these concerns continue to surface, the safety of Letby’s conviction remains a topic of debate among experts and the public.