Medical documents obtained by the Mail reveal no evidence of infection was found in Baby I, despite claims from Lucy Letby's legal team that the infant was exposed to deadly bacteria in hospital.
Defence Claims Versus Medical Evidence
The child killer's new legal representatives have suggested that the waterborne bacteria stenotrophomonas maltophilia was discovered in the breathing tube of Baby I, an infant Letby was convicted of murdering in October 2015. They claim this finding could help prove Letby's innocence, pointing to sewage leaks on the neonatal unit of the Countess of Chester Hospital as a potential source of the bacteria.
Post-Mortem Findings Contradict Defence Theory
However, crucial medical evidence contradicts these assertions. Baby I's post-mortem examination showed no evidence of pneumonia or any other inflammatory infection that would be expected if she had contracted a bacterial infection at the time of death.
According to the post-mortem report, there was evidence of early stage chronic lung disease due to immaturity and prolonged ventilation, but specifically noted the absence of inflammation or recent bleeding.
Expert Analysis Rules Out Bacteria
Significantly, defence expert neonatologist Dr Mike Hall, who was never called to give evidence in Letby's trial, also ruled out the bacteria as being important in Baby I's death. In his report, he states the infant was "found to be colonised with (but not infected by) a bacterium called stenotrophomonas maltophilia."
This distinction between colonisation and infection is medically crucial, indicating the bacteria was present but not causing disease or contributing to death.
Trial Evidence and Medical Context
During Letby's trial at Manchester Crown Court, the jury heard there was no evidence of pneumonia on an X-ray taken approximately 40 minutes before Baby I collapsed. The court was told there was, however, a large bubble of air in her stomach.
Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, also known as pseudomonas maltophilia, is a common bacteria found in soil and plants. While it rarely causes problems for healthy individuals, it can cause pneumonia in vulnerable patients such as premature babies or those with compromised immunity.
Timing Discrepancy in Bacterial Discovery
Although the bacteria was discovered in Baby I's breathing tube in September 2015, documents show it had not developed into an infection and was not medically relevant when she died more than a month later on October 23.
Letby was convicted of attacking Baby I three times over three weeks before murdering her on the fourth attempt by injecting air into her stomach and bloodstream.
Background of the Case
The 36-year-old former nurse is currently serving 15 whole life sentences after being convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven more at the Countess of Chester Hospital between June 2015 and June 2016.
Baby I had been born 13 weeks premature at the end of August 2015, weighing just 2lbs 2oz. Despite her extreme prematurity, she was reportedly gaining weight nicely before her death at almost three months old shocked nurses on the neonatal unit.
Letby's Behaviour After Baby I's Death
After Baby I's death, Letby wrote a sympathy card to the infant's parents, saying she was sorry she couldn't attend the funeral with colleagues to "say goodbye." A photograph of this card, taken around 7.30am on the morning of the funeral when Letby was finishing a night shift, was found on her mobile phone when she was arrested almost three years later.
The prosecution suggested she had kept it as a "trophy" of Baby I's murder, while Letby denied getting a thrill from the picture but admitted it was the only time she had sent a condolence card to parents of a deceased baby.
Witness Accounts and Current Legal Position
Nurse Ashleigh Hudson gave evidence that she was alerted to Baby I being in distress by a "loud, relentless" cry markedly different from her normal hungry cry. She said she saw Letby with her hands inside Baby I's incubator, apparently trying to settle her with a dummy.
The prosecution alleged Letby had injected Baby I with air, causing her to cry out in pain moments earlier.
Baby I's mother also described Letby's "strange" behaviour after her daughter's death, saying the nurse was "smiling weirdly" and talking inappropriately about the infant's first bath, making her feel uncomfortable.
Ongoing Legal Efforts
Letby, formerly of Hereford and currently imprisoned at HMP Bronzefield in Middlesex, has twice tried and failed to appeal her convictions. Her barrister Mark McDonald has submitted reports from 26 medical experts to the Criminal Cases Review Commission in a bid to have her case reviewed and heard for a third time at the Court of Appeal.
However, questions have been raised about the impartiality of some experts, with revelations that they were recruited by Canadian neonatologist Dr Shoo Lee, whose evidence for the defence was previously dismissed by the Court of Appeal.
The medical documents now revealed provide significant counter-evidence to the defence's bacterial theory, showing no infection was present in Baby I despite the presence of bacteria in her breathing tube weeks before her death.
