David Davis, a former Conservative cabinet minister, has told parliament that the police investigation into Lucy Letby was marred by 'egregious' failures, suggesting the nurse may have suffered a miscarriage of justice. Letby was convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven more at the Countess of Chester Hospital.
Speaking in a Commons debate, Davis criticised Cheshire police for failing to appoint appropriate medical and statistical experts, and for not pursuing all possible lines of inquiry into the deaths and collapses on the neonatal unit. He cited reviews by two former police detectives who initially believed Letby was guilty but changed their minds after examining the evidence.
Davis said the investigation was launched after a single meeting with consultants who had themselves been involved in 'seriously inadequate care' of the babies. He also accused police of failing to follow official guidance to appoint an expert panel, and of standing down a medical statistician who had been asked to examine the rise in deaths.
The MP argued that Cheshire police ignored lessons from the Sally Clark case, where a mother was wrongly convicted of killing her sons based on flawed statistical evidence. He said he would call on the director of public prosecutions to review the conduct of both the CPS and the police.
In response, policing minister Sarah Jones said Letby had been convicted following 'a proper process', including a trial by jury and an unsuccessful appeal. She expressed confidence in the effectiveness of Cheshire constabulary.
Letby's lawyer has applied to the Criminal Cases Review Commission to have her case referred back to the Court of Appeal. The CCRC is currently reviewing the application.
