Lucy Letby loses attempt to appeal against baby murder convictions

The former neonatal nurse Lucy Letby has been denied permission to appeal against her convictions for murdering babies.

Letby, 34, was found guilty last year of murdering seven babies and attempting to kill another six at the Countess of Chester hospital, in north-west England, in 2015 and 2016.

She had asked three senior judges to allow her to challenge the convictions at the court of appeal in London.

Letby had put forward four grounds of appeal, each of which involved the submission that the trial judge wrongly refused applications she made during the trial at Manchester crown court.

However, she was refused permission on Friday by Dame Victoria Sharp and Lord Justice Holroyde.

Sharp, the president of the King’s Bench Division, said: “This court, having heard that application, has decided to refuse leave to appeal on all grounds and to refuse all associated applications.

“A full judgment will be handed down in due course and any consequential applications can be determined at that stage.”

Reporting of the appeal is limited as restrictions are in place.

Letby was given 14 whole-life sentences for her crimes and is due to face a retrial on one count of attempted murder at Manchester crown court next month.