Child serial killer Lucy Letby to launch new appeal against murder conviction
Lucy Letby will pursue a challenge against her most recent conviction at the Court of Appeal next month. Court staff confirmed to PA News on Friday, September 20 that the former nurse was bringing a bid to appeal against her conviction for attempted murder in July.
Judges will consider the case at a hearing on October 24, according to court listings. In August 2023, child serial killer Letby, of Hereford, was sentenced to 14 whole life orders after she was convicted of the murders of seven babies and the attempted murders of six others, with two attempts on one of her victims.
The offences took place at the Countess of Chester Hospital’s neonatal unit, where Letby worked as a nurse, between June 2015 and June 2016. Judges rejected her bid to challenge these convictions in a ruling in May.
READ MORE: Dad's 'mistake' earned him £6k but ensured he'll spend 50th birthday in prison
READ MORE: Mum begs judge to show leniency for son after he killed her 'vulnerable' brother
She was later sentenced to an additional whole-life order for the attempted murder of a baby girl after a retrial at Manchester Crown Court in July. A court order prohibits reporting of the identities of the surviving and dead children involved in the case.
A public inquiry into the events surrounding Letby’s crimes, chaired by judge Lady Justice Kathryn Thirlwall, began at Liverpool Town Hall earlier this month. The judge said inquiry hearings would finish in early 2025 and she expected to publish her findings by late autumn of that year.
The ECHO previously reported that part of the inquiry will look at Letby's work placements at Liverpool Women's Hospital. An audit carried out by Liverpool Women's Hospital recorded while Letby was on work placements there was a huge increase in breathing tube dislodgements.
The inquiry was told the tubes were dislodged on 40% of shifts Letby worked, while it generally occurs in less than 1%. The inquiry will predominantly examine how Letby was able to carry out the crimes while working at the Countess of Chester Hospital. Lawyers representing the victims' families previously told the inquiry that "basic failures had fatal consequences".
The BBC reported earlier this month Letby had a new legal team, with her barrister Mark McDonald telling the broadcaster he planned to make an application to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC). The CCRC investigates potential miscarriages of justice and can refer cases back to the Court of Appeal for consideration.