In London on Tuesday, a lawyer representing senior managers at a hospital called for the suspension of a public inquiry into a British nurse convicted of murdering babies in her care. The lawyer argued that new evidence raised doubts about the nurse's convictions for killing seven infants and attempting to murder eight others while working at a hospital in northern England.
The nurse, Letby, was labeled Britain's most prolific child killer in modern times due to these crimes committed between June 2015 and June 2016. Despite failed appeals, recent medical opinions challenge the evidence used in her conviction, suggesting alternative factors like inadequate clinical management and natural causes could explain the deaths.
Letby's lawyer has submitted an application to the Criminal Cases Review Commission to reassess her convictions, claiming potential alternative explanations for the deaths. The lawyer for the hospital's senior managers formally requested a pause in the inquiry until Letby's involvement is clarified, stressing the importance of considering any alternative evidence.
As the possibility of Letby's innocence is scrutinized, the inquiry is facing requests for suspension from various parties, including Letby's own lawyer and a senior lawmaker. Notwithstanding doubts, the police are investigating whether Letby may have been involved in additional deaths, as well as potential corporate manslaughter at the hospital, focusing on the actions of the senior leadership.
Acknowledging mistakes, senior managers deny any deliberate cover-up of a murderer according to Blackwell. Representing affected families, lawyer Peter Skelton emphasized the importance of completing the inquiry despite challenges to Letby's guilt, cautioning against the credibility of newly presented evidence.