The case sent shockwaves throughout the UK and beyond.
Many were left baffled by how a young nurse could be responsible for the deaths of seven vulnerable infants and attempt to take the lives of seven others.
Following her conviction in 2023, Lucy Letby became known as the most prolific child serial killer in modern history.
Despite this, the now 35-year-old maintains her innocence. There are statisticians and medical experts who contend that the evidence used to convict Letby was misinterpreted.
They highlight the statements from medical professionals, parents, and the notes discovered at Letby’s home, which included phrases like “I killed them” and “I am evil”.
Still, there are ongoing calls for a retrial. The issue was discussed in the House of Commons this week.
Calls for a retrial
Recently, several statisticians have raised concerns about the data that led to Letby’s conviction.
They pointed out that a staff rota indicating Lucy Letby was present during critical incidents between June 2015 and June 2016 did not account for occurrences when she was not on duty.
Doubts have also been cast on some medical evidence used, with some experts believing it may have been misinterpreted.
This week, Conservative Party MP and former Brexit secretary, David Davis, addressed the House of Commons.
Letby worked at the Countess of Chester Hospital
He advocated for a retrial, asserting that there was no “hard evidence” tying Letby to the crimes and that the case against her was “built on a poor understanding of probabilities”.
“No one witnessed her committing any wrongdoing. The doctor’s intuition relied on coincidence – she happened to be on shift during several deaths, but importantly, not all of them,” Mr. Davis told fellow MPs.
Labour Justice Minister, Alex Davies-Jones, countered by informing the house that the government would not “interfere with judicial decisions”.
She mentioned that Letby could approach the Criminal Cases Review Commission if she believed her conviction was unjust. Letby’s legal team has indicated they will pursue this option.
Inquiry into Letby cases
After Letby’s conviction, the UK government initiated an inquiry into how the murders went undetected and the hospital’s handling of concerns raised about Letby prior to her arrest.
The inquiry commenced in Liverpool last September.
Before proceedings began, its chair, senior judge Kathryn Thirlwall, addressed the “noise” surrounding Letby’s conviction.
She remarked on the “outpouring of commentary” questioning Letby’s guilt from individuals who, to her knowledge, had not attended the trial to hear the evidence presented.
“This noise has caused significant additional distress to parents who have already endured too much,” Justice Thirlwall stated.
Justice Kathryn Thirlwall criticized the ‘noise’ surrounding Letby’s conviction
Justice Thirlwall, along with others, noted that Britain’s Court of Appeal had conducted a thorough review of Letby’s case and reached a decisive conclusion that “the convictions stand”.
“It’s time to proceed with this inquiry,” she remarked.
In recent months, the inquiry has heard from numerous witnesses. On Thursday, former health secretary Jeremy Hunt appeared before it.
He expressed his apologies to the families of Letby’s victims for the “appalling crime” that occurred during his tenure, acknowledging that he bore ultimate responsibility for the NHS.
For those conducting the inquiry, the case concerning Lucy Letby is viewed as resolved.
Outside these proceedings, however, the calls for a retrial persist.
For the families of the victims, the anguish continues as well. They have characterized the discussions surrounding Letby’s conviction as “grossly offensive” and “distressing,” urging for them to cease.
