The baby killer nurse has developed a large group of supporters who doubt her conviction – but the leading officer into the investigation has spoken out with a very strong statement
In a very strongly worded statement, a top police officer has slammed Lucy Letby supporters who claim that the convicted baby killer’s guilt is in question. He called anyone questioning the investigation “ill-informed” and “insensitive”, saying that “no stone was left unturned”.
The Senior Investigating Officer for Chesire Constabulary, Detective Superintendent Paul Hughes, said that “preparing for the trial was a mammoth task” and that it was “one of the longest running murder trials in British criminal history” adding that “the jury diligently carrying out their deliberations for more than 100 hours”.
Letby, 35, from Hereford, is serving 15 whole-life orders after she was convicted across two trials at Manchester Crown Court of murdering seven infants and attempting to murder seven others, with two attempts on one of her victims, between June 2015 and June 2016 at the Countess of Chester Hospital.
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Bizarrely, despite the overwhelming evidence pointing to Letby’s guilt, she has developed a large group of supporters who do not believe she committed any of the crimes of which she has been accused. Previously, even a church newspaper ran an article calling for forgiveness.
After leading neonatologist Professor Shoo Lee claimed that she could be innocent The Church of England Newspaper backed her. The paper’s leader column claims Letby has been “monstered, in ways reminiscent of medieval women being demonised as witches and executed.” Her barrister Mark McDonald is lauded as “a light of generosity and concern for justice”.
Elsewhere, several people on a pro-Letby Facebook group claim to make “frequent” visits to her home in Chester, Chesire. With one saying: “I’ve been in Chester visiting Lucy’s old haunts, I’ll be there again – definitely want to visit the house”.
The celebrity status given to her by online fanatics will do nothing but dismay the families of the children who died in Letby’s care. One source said: “It’s difficult to think of anything more insulting to the memories of those little children.”
This is definitely the sentiment held by DS Paul Hughes, who said that the investigation, which had been running for six years – was “like no other in scope, complexity and magnitude”, and that any opinions to the contrary of what the investigation had concluded just continues to the suffering of families involved.
Detective Superintendent Paul Hughes full statement:
“Everyone’s entitled to an opinion” but this is “an investigation like no other” and “one of the longest running murder trials in British criminal history”
He said: ““The investigation into the actions of Lucy Letby, the trial process and medical experts continues to face scrutiny and criticism, much of it ill-informed and based on a very partial knowledge of the facts and totality of evidence presented at court and at the Court of Appeal.
“This case has been rigorously and fairly tested through two juries and subsequently scrutinised by two sets of appeal court judges. Lucy Letby’s trial was one of the longest running murder trials in British criminal history with the jury diligently carrying out their deliberations for more than 100 hours.
“It followed an investigation that had been running for six years – an investigation like no other in scope, complexity and magnitude. It was a detailed and painstaking process by a team of almost 70 police officers and no stone was left unturned.”
“Preparing for the trial was a mammoth task with 32,000 pages of evidence being gathered and medical records running into thousands of pages being sifted through. Around 2,000 people were spoken to and almost 250 were identified as potential witnesses at trial.
“As the case unfolded, multiple medical experts – specialising in areas of paediatric radiology, paediatric pathology, haematology, paediatric neurology and paediatric endocrinology and two main medical experts (consultant paediatricians) – were enlisted to ensure that we carried out as thorough an investigation as possible.
“All are highly regarded in their area of expertise and were cross examined whilst giving their evidence in court. The details of the case are clear and have been widely reported on.”
He continued: “Following recent commentary, we have chosen not to enter into the widespread public debate surrounding this case. We remain respectful of the judicial process and mindful of the families who are at the very heart of this.
“In the closing statements of the Thirlwall public inquiry* the parents of the babies involved in the trial spoke of the significant impact this case continues to have on them – a decade after experiencing such trauma and grief.
“Their dignity and composure in the face of intense public discussions with little sensitivity or humanity is remarkable. Their words are incredibly honest and powerful and must not be lost in a sea of noise.”
Adding: “It is out of a deep sense of respect for the parents of the babies that we have not and will not get drawn into the widespread commentary and speculation online and in the media. They have suffered greatly and continue to do so as this case plays out in a very public forum.
“There is a significant public interest in the reporting of this case, and everyone is entitled to an opinion however, every story that is published, statement made, or comment posted online that refers to the specific details of a live investigation can impede the course of justice and cause further distress to all those involved.
“Cheshire Constabulary is ready to support the CCRC and any appropriate review processes in order to inform any questions that may arise. Our priority is to maintain the integrity of our ongoing investigations and to continue to support the many families who are affected by this.”
Outrage righteously reigned in January following a pub party to mark her 35th birthday. There, the ex-neonatal nurse was toasted with prosecco while holding banners protesting her innocence.
The group even put pictures of the bash online, which were seen by a friend of a parent whose premature daughter was murdered by Letby, who raged: “What’s next, do we have celebrations for Myra Hindley and Ian Brady?”
In March, lawyers for the child-killer said that police have made a “huge mistake” in their pursuit of Letby. Mark McDonald, who represents the ex-nurse, claims she is a victim of a miscarriage of justice. And that expert evidence compiled by her defence team “points the finger” in a “very different direction” from where the police are looking.
The Thirlwall Inquiry has been set up to examine events at the Countess of Chester Hospital and their implications following the trial, and subsequent convictions, of former neonatal nurse Lucy Letby of murder and attempted murder of babies at the hospital.
