Lucy Letby’s Lawyer Claims Police Made a ‘Huge Mistake’ with Hospital Charges
Police have suggested that staff at the hospital where Letby was employed may face manslaughter charges, according to reports.
Lucy Letby’s lawyer, Mark McDonald, has criticized the police for what he believes is a significant error, asserting that the evidence gathered by her defense points towards a different direction from the police’s focus.
Letby, who received 15 whole-life orders after being found guilty of murdering seven infants and attempting to murder seven others during her time as a nurse at the Countess of Chester Hospital, is at the center of a manslaughter investigation by Cheshire Constabulary.
Initially focusing on corporate manslaughter, the investigation has expanded to include gross negligence manslaughter, with suspects being identified and notified regarding the ongoing probe into infant deaths between 2012 and 2016.
The Thirlwall Inquiry, a public inquiry exploring the circumstances surrounding Letby’s actions, is set to resume for closing arguments at Liverpool Town Hall.
McDonald expressed surprise at the timing of the police press release discussing gross negligence manslaughter just before a legal argument related to the Thirlwall Inquiry, stating that expert evidence discredits the prosecution’s case against Letby.
Cheshire Police clarified that the investigation into corporate manslaughter at the hospital was initiated after Letby’s conviction and has now broadened to include cases of gross negligence manslaughter.
Emphasizing that this does not impact Letby’s previous convictions, the police confirmed that suspects have been informed without disclosing the number or identities as no arrests or charges have been made.
The investigation into infant deaths at the hospitals between 2012 and 2016 continues, with a focus on maintaining the integrity of the inquiries and supporting the affected families.
Neonatologists and pediatric specialists recently noted that poor medical care and natural causes were responsible for the infant deaths, prompting Letby’s legal team to seek a possible referral of her case to the Court of Appeal.
Amid the ongoing investigations, the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust refrained from commenting, citing the Thirlwall Inquiry and the active police probes as reasons for their silence.
