A doctor whose evidence helped convict Lucy Letby of murdering babies has said he is not certain any crimes were committed and has called for a retrial.
Letby, 36, is serving 15 whole-life terms after being convicted in 2023 and 2024 of the murder of seven babies and eight attempted murders at the neonatal unit of the Countess of Chester Hospital in 2015 and 2016. She has twice had appeals rejected.
Doctor's doubts
Retired paediatrician Dr John Gibbs, one of three consultants whose evidence helped convict her, told The Sun: “If it is the case that Lucy Letby is behind bars for crimes she had not committed, then that’s clearly appalling.”
Asked if he remains certain Letby killed the babies, Dr Gibbs said: “No.” He added: “I hold a very small concern there may not have been any deliberate harm done.”
Retrial call
Dr Gibbs said a retrial could be “the most appropriate thing for everyone”. He also said: “If it wasn’t Letby, do I think someone else was harming them? No, I don’t.”
An inquiry chaired by Lady Justice Thirlwall was launched in 2023 following Letby's convictions. Publishing her final 822-page report last week, Thirlwall said: “There was a complete failure to protect babies on the neonatal unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital.”
Inquiry findings
Thirlwall said the failure was because “no-one seems to have understood that safeguarding action is required when a member of staff is suspected of causing deliberate harm and does not require colleagues to be sure of guilt”.
She continued: “There was complete failure at all levels to invoke safeguarding procedures at any point. Once there was suspicion that Letby may be causing harm deliberately safeguarding steps should have been taken. She should have been removed from the ward as a neutral act and matters could have been investigated without risk to babies.”
Health Secretary Yvette Cooper said the report “must be a turning point for the NHS” and that “the safeguarding and wellbeing of babies must never again be treated as a side issue”.
Prison behaviour
Letby has reportedly become increasingly reclusive in prison following the death of Consultant Mark Deakin, 53, who worked alongside her at the Countess of Chester Hospital. The pair exchanged more than 1,300 Facebook messages over three months in 2016.
She is said to have been allowed to miss prison classes and workshops while staff monitor her wellbeing at HMP Bronzefield, spending increasing amounts of time alone in her cell watching reality TV and comfort-eating.
A source said: “It is pretty obvious Letby is devastated and the staff have been giving her the equivalent of compassionate leave. She has become more reclusive and spending hours in her cell. She has been watching shows including Four in a Bed and Dinner Date and comfort-eating, with chocolate including Galaxy Ripples and Kinder Buenos her favourites. When officers come and call her for something, Letby often says ‘one more episode’ and stays in her cell on her own.”
