Latest news with #RichardGill
The Sun
a day ago
- The Sun
Why I'm certain new arrests in Lucy Letby case will finally prove her innocence and blow up in cops' face, claims expert
AS KILLER nurse Lucy Letby faces more charges over the deaths of babies at the hospitals where she worked, and more arrests are made, the case that shocked a nation continues to unravel. But an expert who believes Letby, 35, is being used as a scapegoat for possible hospital failings told The Sun that the new developments could help to prove her innocence. 7 7 7 Yesterday, Cheshire Constabulary confirmed that three people - who were in senior leadership roles at the Countess of Chester Hospital - had been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter as part of an investigation into the baby deaths and later bailed. And now Letby could face even further charges in connection with the deaths and collapses of babies at both the Countess of Chester Hospital and Liverpool Women's Hospital. The nurse is already serving 15 whole-life orders for murdering seven babies in a year-long reign of terror. And she was also found guilty of trying to kill seven others - including one baby twice. But after the latest bombshell developments in the case, Professor Richard Gill, a statistical misrepresentation consultant, told The Sun: "I think this will blow up in the police's face." The professor has helped free multiple medical professionals wrongfully convicted of killing patients, including Dutch nurse Lucia de Berk and Italian nurse Daniela Poggiali. He has previously argued that he can also prove Letby's innocence. Asked if he believes cops are diverting attention away from potential hospital failures or because there is a growing backlash against Letby's convictions, he said: "Both, I think." He added: "I think this is a move of desperation and a diversionary tactic by police. "They have been threatening this for a long time. So they have to do it to preserve face. They are doing it now in an attempt to regain control of the narrative." Lucy Letby cops arrest 3 senior members of leadership team at hospital where killer nurse murdered 7 babies Talking about how the arrests could help Letby's case, he says: "At least these persons will be able to afford top legal representation. "I think this will help Lucy a great deal. Those managers can pay top lawyers. They can fight back using the enormous doubts which now exist in the safety of Lucy's convictions." The findings of the Thirlwall Inquiry - an examination into the events at the hospital at the time of the baby deaths for which Letby was convicted - are due in early 2026. Prof Gill said: "Police are interfering with the Thirlwall Inquiry. They should have waited until Thirlwall's report was ready." Asked if cops will be potentially worried about what the inquiry will reveal, he said: "No, just because the inquiry had the job of determining whether managers were to blame. "It's a legal issue. The police are interrupting a statutory inquiry. One branch of government disturbing what another is doing." Corporate manslaughter occurs when a company's gross negligence in managing or organising its activities leads to a person or persons' death. What is the difference between corporate and gross negligence manslaughter? CORPORATE manslaughter is a criminal offence in England and Wales used to prosecute companies accused of causing a person or persons death. Corporate manslaughter is a relatively new offence under English law. The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act came into force across the UK in April 2008. Before this companies could be prosecuted for causing death under the offence of gross negligence manslaughter. But in order for the prosecution to be successful a senior individual in the company would also have to be accountable. The new act provided that the company itself could be found guilty of the offence. The Crown Prosecution Service says: "The offence was created to provide a means of accountability for very serious management failings across the organisation." Meanwhile, gross negligence manslaughter is a common law offence. It is committed where the death is a result of a grossly negligent (though otherwise lawful) act or omission on the part of the defendant, The Crown Prosecution says. The circumstances in which this offence may fall to be considered often involve death following medical treatment or care or death in custody. The ex-bosses have not been named by police, and cops were clear to say that this does not impact any of the killer nurse's convictions. Cheshire Police say their investigations into corporate and gross negligence manslaughter at the hospitals where the killer nurse worked continue. The probe, launched in 2023, is examining areas such as senior leadership and decision making to "determine whether any criminality has taken place". When police first announced hospital staff could face prosecution in March, Prof Gill had said he was convinced the deaths occurred due to changes introduced, which meant greater numbers of "doomed" patients were admitted to the ward where Letby worked. Prof Gill said: 'NHS statistics show that the increase in mortality can be fully explained by changes in admissions policy." Earlier this year, an international panel of neonatologists and paediatric specialists said Letby's convictions were "unsafe" and told reporters bad medical care and natural causes were the reasons for the collapses and deaths. Their evidence has been passed to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), which investigates potential miscarriages of justice, and Letby's legal team hopes her case will be referred back to the Court of Appeal. 7 7 7 Between 2015 and 2016, two babies on the neo-natal unit were 'deliberately' poisoned with insulin, which was 'no accident'. Some of the other babies were killed or harmed when air or milk was injected into their bloodstream or via a tube in their stomachs. Letby, from Herefordshire, became a prime suspect when the number of baby deaths and catastrophic collapses at the hospital significantly rose. Consultants grew concerned when they realised the children who died had 'deteriorated unexpectedly'. Letby was found to be the "common denominator' among the deaths and collapses. Detective Superintendent Paul Hughes, Senior Investigating Officer for Operation Duet, said today: 'In October 2023, following the lengthy trial and subsequent conviction of Lucy Letby, Cheshire Constabulary launched an investigation into corporate manslaughter at the Countess of Chester Hospital. 'This focuses on senior leadership and their decision making to determine whether any criminality has taken place concerning the response to the increased levels of fatalities. 'In March 2025, the scope of the investigation widened to also include gross negligence manslaughter. 'This is a separate offence to corporate manslaughter and focuses on the grossly negligent action or inaction of individuals. 'It is important to note that this does not impact on the convictions of Lucy Letby for multiple offences of murder and attempted murder. 'As part of our ongoing enquiries, on Monday 30th June three individuals who were part of the senior leadership team at the CoCH in 2015-2016, were arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter. 'All three have subsequently been bailed pending further enquiries. 'Both the corporate manslaughter and gross negligence manslaughter elements of the investigation are continuing and there are no set timescales for these. 'Our investigation into the deaths and non-fatal collapses of babies at the neo-natal units of both the Countess of Chester Hospital and the Liverpool Women's Hospital between the period of 2012 to 2016 is also ongoing.' The killer nurse has lost two appeals against her convictions so far. Last year, The Sun reported that the nurse was allowed to spend £901,817.45 on barristers and £818,497.92 on solicitors. In March, Letby called for the public inquiry into events surrounding her crimes to be suspended. Her solicitors wrote to inquiry chairwoman Lady Justice Thirlwall insisting her final report would be "likely unreliable" unless it was paused pending the outcome of the killer nurse's battle to prove her innocence. With an estimated £10million spent so far on the inquiry, the letter added it would be in the taxpayer's interest to wait for the outcome of the CCRC review before publishing the report. But the judge refused to pause the inquiry, though the report has been delayed from November to early next year. Cheshire Police declined to comment. The charges Letby has been convicted of in full Child A, allegation of murder. The Crown said Letby injected air intravenously into the bloodstream of the baby boy. COUNT 1 GUILTY. Child B, allegation of attempted murder. The Crown said Letby attempted to murder the baby girl, the twin sister of Child A, by injecting air into her bloodstream. COUNT 2 GUILTY. Child C, allegation of murder. Prosecutors said Letby forced air down a feeding tube and into the stomach of the baby boy. COUNT 3 GUILTY. Child D, allegation of murder. The Crown said air was injected intravenously into the baby girl. COUNT 4 GUILTY. Child E, allegation of murder. The Crown said Letby murdered the twin baby boy with an injection of air into the bloodstream and also deliberately caused bleeding to the infant. COUNT 5 GUILTY. Child F, allegation of attempted murder. Letby was said by prosecutors to have poisoned the twin brother of Child E with insulin. COUNT 6 GUILTY. Child I, allegation of murder. The prosecution said Letby killed the baby girl at the fourth attempt and had given her air and overfed her with milk. COUNT 12 GUILTY. Child K, allegation of attempted murder. The prosecution said Letby compromised the baby girl as she deliberately dislodged a breathing tube. COUNT 14 JURY COULD NOT REACH VERDICT AT ORIGINAL TRIAL, NOW GUILTY AFTER RETRIAL Child L, allegation of attempted murder. The Crown said the nurse poisoned the twin baby boy with insulin. COUNT 15 GUILTY. Child M, allegation of attempted murder. Prosecutors said Letby injected air into the bloodstream of Child L's twin brother. COUNT 16 GUILTY. Child N, three allegations of attempted murder. The Crown said Letby inflicted trauma in the baby boy's throat and also injected him with air in the bloodstream. COUNT 17 GUILTY, COUNT 18 JURY COULD NOT REACH VERDICT, COUNT 19 JURY COULD NOT REACH VERDICT. Child O, allegation of murder. Prosecutors say Letby attacked the triplet boy by injecting him with air, overfeeding him with milk and inflicting trauma to his liver with "severe force". COUNT 20 GUILTY. Child P, allegation of murder. Prosecutors said the nurse targeted the triplet brother of Child O by overfeeding him with milk, injecting air and dislodging his breathing tube. COUNT 21 GUILTY. Child Q, allegation of attempted murder. The Crown said Letby injected the baby boy with liquid, and possibly air, down his feeding tube. COUNT 22 JURY COULD NOT REACH VERDICT
Powys County Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Powys County Times
School make lifelong memories at National Table Cricket Finals Day
The High School, Leckhampton made lifelong memories at Lord's as they took part in the National Table Cricket Finals Day. The Cheltenham school battled through regional rounds to take on 11 other schools at the Home of Cricket, and while they didn't take home the trophy, they revelled in playing at an iconic sporting venue. The school only started playing the sport this academic year but teacher Richard Gill explained how it has already taken off amongst pupils who loved their day in London. 'They have loved it,' he said. 'We rocked up at school at 5.45 in the morning, there was lots of energy on the bus on the way here. We have had some really good individual and team performances. 'We are quite a new school, so these pupils are the pioneers. Looking back at it in a few years' time, they will really appreciate what they have done and the amazing opportunity. 'It has been amazing. We didn't think we could achieve something like this at the start of the year. 'We have got several pupils hooked for life and they had never played it before this year.' Table cricket is a fully inclusive, adapted version of the game aimed at young people living with a wide range of learning and physical disabilities played on a table tennis table. Teams of six compete to avoid fielders and hit specific scoring zones while the ball is bowled using a ramp. The Lord's Taverners runs its national competition each year, with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) schools from across the country taking part. The sport provides opportunities for participants to benefit from all that sport can offer, something Gill has seen first-hand. 'Their confidence has grown massively, they have met so many new people on their journey and they are quite happy to talk to them,' he added. 'They have a really strong sense of pride and ownership around table cricket. They are trying to get more people involved at school and everyone wants a bit of it now because they've got to a national final. Everyone at school is so proud of them.' For the first time in the competition's history, National Finals Day took place as part of Disability Cricket Day, the biggest ever one-off showcase of disability cricket hosted by the MCC, ECB and Lord's Taverners which saw all formats of disability cricket on display from grassroots to elite level. The day was brought to a close by the first ever international disability cricket fixture on the main ground at Lord's, the third of a seven-match Vitality IT20 Mixed disability series between England and India. 'I saw table cricket for the first time a few years ago now and coming to the final here at Lord's today, you are struck immediately by the competitiveness, the keenness and the camaraderie,' said Lord's Taverners President and former England batter David Gower. 'Everyone's spirits are high and it's fantastic to see people getting everything they want from the game, who, as we know, wouldn't otherwise have the opportunity. Events like this are hugely important. 'The players are all so good, and they are all having immense fun. The atmosphere is just vibrant, and I love being a figurehead for Tavs, especially on days like today.'
South Wales Argus
3 days ago
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
School make lifelong memories at National Table Cricket Finals Day
The Cheltenham school battled through regional rounds to take on 11 other schools at the Home of Cricket, and while they didn't take home the trophy, they revelled in playing at an iconic sporting venue. The school only started playing the sport this academic year but teacher Richard Gill explained how it has already taken off amongst pupils who loved their day in London. 'They have loved it,' he said. 'We rocked up at school at 5.45 in the morning, there was lots of energy on the bus on the way here. We have had some really good individual and team performances. 'We are quite a new school, so these pupils are the pioneers. Looking back at it in a few years' time, they will really appreciate what they have done and the amazing opportunity. 'It has been amazing. We didn't think we could achieve something like this at the start of the year. 'We have got several pupils hooked for life and they had never played it before this year.' Table cricket is a fully inclusive, adapted version of the game aimed at young people living with a wide range of learning and physical disabilities played on a table tennis table. Teams of six compete to avoid fielders and hit specific scoring zones while the ball is bowled using a ramp. The Lord's Taverners runs its national competition each year, with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) schools from across the country taking part. The sport provides opportunities for participants to benefit from all that sport can offer, something Gill has seen first-hand. 'Their confidence has grown massively, they have met so many new people on their journey and they are quite happy to talk to them,' he added. 'They have a really strong sense of pride and ownership around table cricket. They are trying to get more people involved at school and everyone wants a bit of it now because they've got to a national final. Everyone at school is so proud of them.' For the first time in the competition's history, National Finals Day took place as part of Disability Cricket Day, the biggest ever one-off showcase of disability cricket hosted by the MCC, ECB and Lord's Taverners which saw all formats of disability cricket on display from grassroots to elite level. The day was brought to a close by the first ever international disability cricket fixture on the main ground at Lord's, the third of a seven-match Vitality IT20 Mixed disability series between England and India. 'I saw table cricket for the first time a few years ago now and coming to the final here at Lord's today, you are struck immediately by the competitiveness, the keenness and the camaraderie,' said Lord's Taverners President and former England batter David Gower. 'Everyone's spirits are high and it's fantastic to see people getting everything they want from the game, who, as we know, wouldn't otherwise have the opportunity. Events like this are hugely important. 'The players are all so good, and they are all having immense fun. The atmosphere is just vibrant, and I love being a figurehead for Tavs, especially on days like today.' The Lord's Taverners impacts the lives of young people facing the challenges of inequality. The charity works across the UK and beyond to provide inclusive and impactful cricket programmes, empowering young people with disabilities and from disadvantaged communities – visit
South Wales Guardian
3 days ago
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
School make lifelong memories at National Table Cricket Finals Day
The Cheltenham school battled through regional rounds to take on 11 other schools at the Home of Cricket, and while they didn't take home the trophy, they revelled in playing at an iconic sporting venue. The school only started playing the sport this academic year but teacher Richard Gill explained how it has already taken off amongst pupils who loved their day in London. 'They have loved it,' he said. 'We rocked up at school at 5.45 in the morning, there was lots of energy on the bus on the way here. We have had some really good individual and team performances. 'We are quite a new school, so these pupils are the pioneers. Looking back at it in a few years' time, they will really appreciate what they have done and the amazing opportunity. 'It has been amazing. We didn't think we could achieve something like this at the start of the year. 'We have got several pupils hooked for life and they had never played it before this year.' Table cricket is a fully inclusive, adapted version of the game aimed at young people living with a wide range of learning and physical disabilities played on a table tennis table. Teams of six compete to avoid fielders and hit specific scoring zones while the ball is bowled using a ramp. The Lord's Taverners runs its national competition each year, with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) schools from across the country taking part. The sport provides opportunities for participants to benefit from all that sport can offer, something Gill has seen first-hand. 'Their confidence has grown massively, they have met so many new people on their journey and they are quite happy to talk to them,' he added. 'They have a really strong sense of pride and ownership around table cricket. They are trying to get more people involved at school and everyone wants a bit of it now because they've got to a national final. Everyone at school is so proud of them.' For the first time in the competition's history, National Finals Day took place as part of Disability Cricket Day, the biggest ever one-off showcase of disability cricket hosted by the MCC, ECB and Lord's Taverners which saw all formats of disability cricket on display from grassroots to elite level. The day was brought to a close by the first ever international disability cricket fixture on the main ground at Lord's, the third of a seven-match Vitality IT20 Mixed disability series between England and India. 'I saw table cricket for the first time a few years ago now and coming to the final here at Lord's today, you are struck immediately by the competitiveness, the keenness and the camaraderie,' said Lord's Taverners President and former England batter David Gower. 'Everyone's spirits are high and it's fantastic to see people getting everything they want from the game, who, as we know, wouldn't otherwise have the opportunity. Events like this are hugely important. 'The players are all so good, and they are all having immense fun. The atmosphere is just vibrant, and I love being a figurehead for Tavs, especially on days like today.' The Lord's Taverners impacts the lives of young people facing the challenges of inequality. The charity works across the UK and beyond to provide inclusive and impactful cricket programmes, empowering young people with disabilities and from disadvantaged communities – visit
Daily Mail
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Half of Britons ‘would not fight for their country under any circumstances today'
Anyone out in central London early yesterday morning got an exclusive look at the pageantry of the Armed Forces as bands rehearsed for this week's VE Day procession. But as the nation prepares to mark 80 years since the end of the Second World War, a survey has revealed that almost half of all Britons would not be prepared to fight for their country today. A staggering 48 per cent of those polled said there would be 'no circumstances' in which they would be willing to take up arms and go to war. Pollsters Ipsos surveyed more than 1,000 adults and found that just 35 per cent – roughly one in three – said they would be ready to fight, while 17 per cent said they did not know. They found men (49 per cent) were more willing to go to war than women (21 per cent), with adults aged 18 to 34 most likely to volunteer for action (42 per cent). However, 35 to 54-year-olds were the least willing to step up (28 per cent), with more than half of that age demographic saying there would be no circumstances in which they would serve. Of the four biggest political parties, Reform UK voters were the most likely to fight, with Lib Dem supporters most likely to say no, according to the data. Former Army officer Richard Gill, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan during a 15-year career, said: 'The fact that so many would refuse to fight for Britain is a symptom of a deeper national malaise. We've stopped teaching pride in our country, its history, and its values. 'A nation unsure of itself cannot expect its people to defend it. That must change.'
