Photo credit: www.yahoo.com

Call to Pause Inquiry into Nurse Lucy Letby’s Convictions

LONDON (Reuters) – A public inquiry into the case of Lucy Letby, a British nurse convicted of murdering infants under her care, is facing calls for suspension due to new evidence that raises serious questions about her guilt. This argument was put forth on Tuesday by the attorney representing senior managers from the hospital where Letby worked.

Letby, 35, was found guilty of killing seven infants and attempting to murder eight others between June 2015 and June 2016 while employed in the neonatal unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital (COCH) in northern England. This has led to her being dubbed the most notorious serial child killer in modern British history.

However, since her convictions, a number of medical professionals have publicly criticized the validity of the evidence used against her, suggesting the circumstances of the infants’ deaths may not have been as clear-cut as previously believed.

In light of this new evidence, Letby’s legal team has filed a request with the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) to revisit her convictions, arguing that alternative explanations for the babies’ deaths exist.

Kate Blackwell, the attorney for COCH’s senior management, pointed out in her submissions to the inquiry that there is a growing possibility that the deaths and unexpected collapses could be attributed to inadequate clinical management or natural causes rather than murder. She emphasized the importance of pausing the inquiry until there is a definitive ruling on Letby’s involvement, which can only be achieved through a formal appeals process.

Blackwell argued, “If evidence emerges suggesting alternative explanations for these deaths, it would be inappropriate for the inquiry to disregard it simply because it complicates the narrative.”

During a session on Monday, inquiry chair Kathryn Thirlwall indicated that she would consider the merits of postponing the inquiry after requests were made by the hospital managers, a senior legislator, and Letby’s own counsel.

While uncertainties surrounding Letby’s guilt continue to stir debate, law enforcement agencies are still probing whether she may be implicated in additional infant deaths. Furthermore, their investigation has broadened to assess possible corporate manslaughter charges against senior leadership at COCH, as well as individual instances of gross negligence.

Blackwell acknowledged that senior management at the hospital admitted to previous failures but asserted that all actions taken were made in good faith. She firmly denied allegations that the hospital deliberately shielded a murderer.

In the event that Thirlwall lacks the authority to halt the inquiry, Blackwell suggested that it may be necessary to seek intervention from the health minister.

Source
www.yahoo.com