Former health secretary Sir Jeremy Hunt has called for an "urgent re-examination" of the Lucy Letby case after "serious and credible" questions were raised by experts. The Conservative MP pleaded for the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), which investigates potential miscarriages of justice, to "speed up their normally painfully slow process". The CCRC is considering evidence presented by Letby's legal team from an international panel of medics claiming poor medical care and natural causes were the real reasons for the deaths of the babies she was found guilty of murdering. Hunt said he and parliamentary colleagues such as Sir David Davis "now believe the time has come for these concerns to be addressed as a matter of urgency". Former nurse Letby, 35, from Hereford, is serving 15 whole-life orders after she was convicted ofmurdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven othersbetween June 2015 and June 2016 at the Countess of Chester Hospital. Hunt said he had noted the findings of the international panel of paediatric specialists and neonatologists, and had also read a "wide range of expert concerns about the conduct of the criminal case". He said: "Taken together - and it pains me to say it - this analysis raises serious and credible questions about the evidence presented in court, the robustness of expert testimony and the interpretation of statistical data." Giving evidence in January at theThirlwall Inquiryinto Letby's crimes, Hunt said: "I want to put on the record my apologies to the families for anything that did not happen that potentially could have prevented such an appalling crime." Writing in the Daily Mail newspaper on Wednesday, Hunt said he was not arguing that Letby is innocent, adding that "the pain endured by the families affected must also be at the forefront of our minds", but they deserved the truth. "And recently, some have begun to cast doubt on what actually happened," Hunt said. "Were those tragic deaths caused by an evil woman or were they the result of medical error?" He said justice "must be done and seen to be done", adding that re-examination of the evidence was not a denial of the families' pain but would "ensure that all of us can have confidence that the truth has been reached through a rigorous and fair process". "And if medical error was the cause, we can then make sure no more babies die from the same mistakes," he added. Lawyers for the families of Letby's victims have dismissed the medical panel's conclusions as "full of analytical holes" and "a rehash" of the defence case heard at trial. The mother of one baby boy who Letby attempted to murder said the families "already have the truth" and they believed in the British justice system and that the jury made the right decision. Cheshire Constabulary is continuing a review of deaths and collapses of babies at the neonatal units of the Countess of Chester and Liverpool Women's Hospital during Letby's time as a nurse from 2012 to 2016. A separate inquiry by the force intocorporate manslaughter and gross negligence manslaughterat the Countess is ongoing. Lady Justice Thirlwall is due topublish the findings from her public inquiryin early 2026. Read more stories fromCheshireon the BBC, watchBBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayerand followBBC North West on X. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Hunt calls for 'urgent re-examination' of Letby case
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"Sir Jeremy Hunt Calls for Urgent Review of Evidence in Lucy Letby Case"
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TruthLens AI Summary
Former health secretary Sir Jeremy Hunt has urged for an urgent re-examination of the Lucy Letby case, following significant concerns raised by experts regarding the evidence presented during her trial. Letby, a former nurse convicted of murdering seven infants and attempting to murder seven others between 2015 and 2016 at the Countess of Chester Hospital, is currently serving 15 whole-life sentences. Hunt has called on the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) to expedite its process in reviewing new evidence submitted by Letby's legal team. This evidence stems from an international panel of medical experts who argue that the deaths attributed to Letby may have been due to inadequate medical care or natural causes, rather than her deliberate actions. In light of this, Hunt, alongside parliamentary colleagues, believes it is imperative to address these concerns promptly to ensure justice is served and the integrity of the legal system is maintained.
In his commentary, Hunt emphasized that while he does not dispute the pain experienced by the families of the victims, it is crucial to uncover the truth regarding the circumstances surrounding these tragic deaths. He highlighted the importance of assessing whether the deaths were indeed caused by Letby or the result of medical errors, stating that a thorough re-examination of the evidence would not undermine the families' suffering but rather reinforce public confidence in the judicial process. He also acknowledged the ongoing inquiries into the neonatal units where Letby worked, indicating that understanding any potential medical errors could prevent future tragedies. However, legal representatives for the families have criticized the conclusions of the medical panel, labeling them as flawed and reiterating their belief in the justice system's original verdict. As investigations continue, Lady Justice Thirlwall’s inquiry is expected to provide further insights by early 2026, underscoring the ongoing complexities surrounding this highly publicized case.
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