New evidence has come to light suggesting that Lucy Letby, the convicted serial killer nurse, may have harmed more babies than initially thought. Letby was found guilty of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others by administering insulin at the Countess of Chester Hospital’s neonatal unit between June 2015 and June 2016. However, documents revealed by BBC One’s Panorama indicate that a third baby may have been poisoned under Letby’s care, shortly after she took over the child’s treatment. Medical records show a significant drop in the infant’s blood sugar level, along with suspiciously high insulin levels. Panorama’s investigation also found that almost a third of Letby’s shifts at Liverpool Women’s Hospital in 2012 and 2015 involved potentially life-threatening incidents with infants, raising further concerns about her actions.
Following Letby’s conviction and sentencing to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, questions have been raised about the safety of her convictions. In July of this year, she was found guilty of attempting to murder a seventh infant during a second trial. Despite being denied the opportunity to appeal her convictions from the first trial, new evidence has emerged about other ill and premature babies potentially being harmed under Letby’s supervision. Panorama uncovered a blood test from a third infant in November 2015 that showed extremely high insulin levels and low C-peptide levels, raising doubts about the natural occurrence of the insulin. Four experts consulted by Panorama have cast doubt on the explanation that the baby had congenital hyperinsulinism, pointing out discrepancies in the readings.
Letby’s new lawyer, Mark McDonald, has contested the allegations, stating that he has contradictory expert opinions supporting her innocence. The controversy extends to the testing methods used to measure insulin levels, with questions raised about the reliability of the immunoassay method employed in Letby’s cases. Panorama investigations suggest that errors in the testing method are unlikely to have caused the consistently high insulin readings across multiple cases. Cheshire Police continue to investigate other cases suspected to involve Letby, including incidents at Liverpool Women’s Hospital. McDonald intends to bring Letby’s case to the Criminal Cases Review Commission to seek a review by the Court of Appeal.
The emergence of this new evidence has reignited discussions about the safety of Letby’s convictions and the potential harm inflicted on more babies under her care. The ongoing investigations and legal proceedings surrounding the case have cast a shadow of doubt over the initial verdict, prompting calls for a thorough review of the evidence presented in her trials. The complexities of the medical records and testing methods involved underscore the challenges in uncovering the truth behind these tragic events. As the case develops, further scrutiny and analysis will be crucial in determining the full extent of Lucy Letby’s actions and their impact on the infants in her care.