An expert medical witness has denied 'reaching for things' to support allegations faced by nurse Lucy Letby, who is accused of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder 10 others at the Countess of Chester Hospital.
Dr Dewi Evans, giving evidence at Manchester Crown Court, rejected suggestions by Ms Letby's barrister Ben Myers KC that he is not an independent witness. Mr Myers accused Dr Evans of introducing a new theory—'splinting of the diaphragm'—to support the prosecution's case, rather than explaining facts.
Dr Evans told jurors he believed one of the alleged victims, Child C, died because of splinting of the diaphragm. The prosecution alleges Ms Letby caused the baby's collapse and death by injecting air into his stomach via a nasogastric tube (NGT) on the night of June 13, 2015.
Under cross-examination, Mr Myers noted that Dr Evans had not mentioned splinting of the diaphragm in eight previous reports, including a joint expert report in August. Dr Evans responded that he had 'benefited from additional information' since then and was relying on other experts' opinions as well as his own.
Mr Myers said: 'You are reaching for things to support the allegations rather than reflecting the facts.' Dr Evans replied: 'I'm completely independent... I'm not here for the prosecution. I'm not here for the defence. I'm here for the court.'
The trial continues, with a court order banning the reporting of the identities of the children allegedly attacked by Ms Letby, as well as their parents or witnesses connected with them.
