When it comes to the Lucy Letby case, there are two parallel universes. In one, the question of her guilt is settled. She is a monster who murdered seven babies and attempted to murder seven more while she was a nurse at the Countess of Chester Hospital between 2015 and 2016. In the other universe, Letby is the victim of a flawed criminal justice system in which unreliable medical evidence was used to condemn and imprison an innocent woman.
Probably not for the first time…
These extremes are both disturbing and bewildering. One of them is wrong - but which? Who should we believe?
Well, I know who doesn’t earn my attention- the ones who are denying there’s any doubt and waving their child’s shroud around to try to ensure there is no retrial.
The families of the infants say there is no doubt. Letby was convicted after a 10-month trial by a jury that had considered a vast range of evidence. They say Letby's defenders are picking on small bits of evidence out of context and that the constant questioning of her guilt is deeply distressing.
Well, tough.
Ultimately, the question of whether Letby's case should be re-examined by the Court of Appeal now lies with CCRC. They have the task of studying Mark McDonald's expert reports. If he is successful and Lucy Letby's case is referred back to the Court of Appeal - that is ultimately where the expert evidence on both sides will face a true reckoning.
And frankly, that’s long overdue. The days of saying ‘We’ll, the justice system slwsys get it right first time’ are long over.
