Former nurse Lucy Letby’s appeal to challenge her latest conviction for the attempted murder of a baby girl, known as Child K, has been denied by the Court of Appeal. Letby, who is already serving 15 whole-life prison terms for the murder of seven babies and the attempted murder of several others, had argued that her retrial was unfair due to media coverage from the original trial. However, the Court of Appeal ruled that she had received a fair trial and dismissed her application.
During the appeal hearing, Letby’s lawyer, Benjamin Myers KC, argued that the media coverage and public comments following the first trial had led to “unadulterated vitriol” and prejudice against her in the second trial. He claimed that the retrial should have been stopped as an abuse of process due to overwhelming unfairness. On the other hand, Nick Johnson KC, who prosecuted the original trial, stated that the police comments after the convictions in the first trial were reasonable and accurately described Letby’s crimes.
The judges at the Court of Appeal, including Lord Justice William Davis, Lord Justice Jeremy Baker, and Mrs. Justice McGowan, refused permission for Letby to challenge her conviction. They emphasized the judge’s experience in charge of both trials and the steps taken to ensure a fair prosecution. They concluded that Letby had received a fair trial and that the police’s comments were not unreasonable. Letby, who appeared via video link from HMP Bronzefield, showed no emotion upon hearing the ruling.
Child K, the victim of the attempted murder, was attacked in February 2016 during Letby’s period of offending. Letby was found to have dislodged the baby’s breathing tube shortly after birth and stood idly by as the child struggled to breathe. Although the baby was stabilized by a doctor, she was later transferred to another hospital and died three days later from birth-related complications, not directly related to Letby’s attack.
Letby’s legal team plans to ask the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) to review her case in hopes of overturning the conviction. The CCRC investigates potential miscarriages of justice and has the authority to refer cases back to the Court of Appeal for further consideration. Letby has now had two separate appeal attempts dismissed by the Court of Appeal, and her fate remains sealed with the 15 whole-life prison terms she is currently serving.
