Additional Coverage:
Hospital Leaders Arrested After Nurse’s Infant Murder Conviction
Chester, England — Three former senior leaders at the Countess of Chester Hospital, where nurse Lucy Letby was convicted of murdering seven babies, have been arrested. They are suspected of gross negligence manslaughter related to their leadership roles at the hospital between 2015 and 2016, coinciding with Letby’s crimes.
Letby is currently serving 15 consecutive life sentences. However, her conviction remains controversial, with questions surrounding the evidence presented at trial. Her lawyer has formally requested a case review.
The arrests stem from an investigation launched in October 2023 by the Cheshire Constabulary. Initially focused on potential corporate manslaughter, the investigation broadened to include gross negligence manslaughter.
The three former leaders have been released on bail as the investigation continues. Police emphasized that these arrests do not affect Letby’s convictions.
The police are also investigating infant deaths and non-fatal collapses at the Countess of Chester Hospital and Liverpool Women’s Hospital between 2012 and 2016, where Letby trained.
Controversy Surrounding Letby’s Conviction
Letby’s conviction has sparked considerable debate. Several media outlets and a group of medical experts have raised concerns about the evidence used in the trial. The experts contend the infants died from natural causes or inadequate medical care, not murder.
Letby maintains her innocence, and her lawyer argues that the experts’ findings invalidate the case against her. He has applied to the Criminal Cases Review Commission for a potential appeal, but a decision date is pending. Despite the recent arrests, Letby’s lawyer continues to call for a public inquiry into the hospital’s neonatal and pediatric care unit, reiterating his belief in her wrongful conviction.