Health Secretary Wes Streeting has firmly stated that the fate of convicted nurse Lucy Letby should be decided by the courts, not by campaigners, as a new documentary about her case is released on Netflix. The senior government figure emphasised his support for the judicial process and the serious nature of Letby's crimes.
Judicial Confidence Over Campaigning
In an interview with LBC News, Mr Streeting addressed the growing campaign movement and the release of the documentary titled The Investigation Of Lucy Letby. He made it clear that unless a formal judicial review overturns the original verdict, he maintains full confidence in the court's judgment.
"Unless and until there is a judicial process that says that the court has got it wrong, I have to continue to have confidence in the court's judgments," Mr Streeting declared. "I'm certainly not going to provide a running commentary on this case."
Campaigners and Legal Challenges
The Health Secretary acknowledged the active campaign supporting Letby but stressed that any challenges must follow proper legal channels. "If people think the courts have got it wrong, they can bring forward their evidence. They can test it and challenge it in the usual way," he stated, adding that it is "absolutely not for me to comment" on the specifics of the case.
Mr Streeting described Lucy Letby as "a convicted criminal and convicted of some of the most serious crimes imaginable." He affirmed that his position will remain unchanged "unless and until that changes through evidence, not through campaigning."
Background of the Case
Lucy Letby, a 36-year-old from Hereford, was removed from clinical duties in July 2016 after consultant paediatricians raised concerns that she may have been deliberately harming babies. She is currently serving 15 whole-life orders at HMP Bronzefield.
Her convictions include:
- Murdering seven infants
- Attempting to murder seven others
- Two separate attempts on one of her victims
These crimes occurred between June 2015 and June 2016 at the Countess of Chester Hospital.
Ongoing Legal Proceedings
A group of campaigners continues to support Letby and has submitted reports to the Criminal Cases Review Commission in an effort to have her convictions overturned. However, Letby was twice denied permission to appeal against her convictions in 2024.
This week also sees the opening of inquests into the deaths of five babies whom Letby was convicted of murdering. These proceedings coincide with the release of the Netflix documentary, which features new footage and interviews with police officers and lawyers involved in the investigation.
The documentary's release has brought renewed public attention to one of the most disturbing criminal cases in recent British history, while government officials maintain that the judicial system must be allowed to function without political interference.
