Criminal Cases Review Commission establishes team to look into claims Lucy Letby is the victim of a miscarriage of justice

Independent reviewers are preparing to look into claims that Lucy Letby is the victim of a miscarriage of justice, it emerged yesterday. Tomorrow, the former neo-natal nurse’s defence team is expected to outline details of an independent review by a ‘blue-ribbon committee’ of 14 international medical experts into the seven murders and eight attempted murders of babies in her care. Among the experts speaking at tomorrow’s press conference is Dr Shoo Lee, author of a 1989 academic paper used by the prosecution to explain how Letby killed babies by injecting them with air. Lucy Letby is serving 15 whole life terms in jail for harming the babies while working at the Countess of Chester Hospital in 2015 and 2016 Dr Shoo Lee president of the Canadian Neo-natal Foundation, is expected to say that none of the babies should have been diagnosed with air embolism because it is a 'very rare and specific condition' In August 2023, Letby was convicted of seven murders and seven attempted murders – including attempting to harm the same baby twice Letby appointed criminal defence and human rights barrister Mark McDonald in September – and a fresh challenge to her conviction was announced in December The prosecution in Letby’s case claimed skin discolouration on the babies’ bodies was evidence of air embolism – but Dr Lee said the type of discolouration did not match ‘specific’ tell-tale patterns he identified. Asked if she had ‘complete confidence’ in how the case was investigated and prosecuted, Ms Cooper said: ‘I think it would be inappropriate for me to be commenting on the detail of an individual case.’ A CCRC spokesman said: ‘We have not had any application from Ms Letby or her legal team but cannot comment further.’ Mr McDonald said last night he had been waiting for the reports from Dr Lee – which he described as a ‘game changer’ – and those of the other experts before applying to the CCRC.