Police failed to tell Letby she could be facing further charges

Telegraph

13 hours ago

Police failed to tell Lucy Letby that she could be facing further charges, forcing her to find out through 'gossipy' leaks to the press, her barrister has complained.
Mark McDonald, defending Letby, said it was concerning that police did not 'have the courtesy' to inform her legal team that it was passing a new file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
The file is thought to relate to new baby deaths and non-fatal collapses at the Countess of Chester Hospital and Liverpool Women's Hospital between 2012 and 2016.
Mr McDonald argued that evidence of Letby's innocence was now 'overwhelming' and said he was concerned that police were using journalists 'as a conduit for leaked gossip'.
He said: 'One could be cynical and say that the police are afraid of what will happen when Lucy's conviction is overturned.
'We will cross every bridge when we get to it, but if Lucy is charged I know we have a whole army of internationally renowned medical experts who will totally undermine the prosecution's unfounded allegations.'
'Carefully consider the evidence'
Letby, 35, from Herefordshire, was convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to kill seven others while working at the Countess of Chester in 2015 and 2016.
But since the trial, scores of scientists, medics and politicians have come forward to question how the trial was conducted, while a panel of eminent experts has reviewed the cases and concluded that there were no murders.
Jeremy Hunt, who was health secretary during the period when Letby worked at the Countess of Chester, has said there are 'serious and credible' concerns regarding the conviction.
The case is currently under consideration by the Criminal Cases Review Commission, which looks into potential miscarriages of justice. The CCRC is expected to report back by Christmas.
Following her convictions, Cheshire Constabulary announced that it would be investigating more attacks at the Countess of Chester and elsewhere, and officers have interviewed Letby in prison on several occasions.
A spokesman for the force said: 'We can confirm that Cheshire Constabulary has submitted a full file of evidence to the CPS for charging advice regarding the ongoing investigation into deaths and non-fatal collapses of babies at the neonatal units of both the Countess of Chester Hospital and the Liverpool Women's Hospital as part of Operation Hummingbird.'
The CPS confirmed that it had received the file and said it would 'carefully consider the evidence to determine whether any criminal charges should be brought'.
A spokesman said: 'As always, we will make that decision independently, based on the evidence and in line with our legal test.'