UK nurse who murdered 7 babies launches bid to appeal her convictions
Lucy Letby, a British neonatal nurse found guilty of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder six others, is seeking to appeal her convictions.
Former Neonatal Nurse Seeks to Appeal Murder Convictions
In an effort to overturn her convictions, Lucy Letby, a British neonatal nurse who was convicted of killing seven babies and attempted to kill another six, is serving a life term in jail. Her culpability for the murders, which took place between June 2015 and June 2016 at the Countess of Chester Hospital in northwest England, was determined by a jury at Manchester Crown Court last month.
She was also found guilty of attempted murder involving six other babies but cleared of two additional attempted murder charges. The jury couldn't reach a verdict on several other charges.
Application for Appeal Under Consideration
A request for authorization to appeal Letby's convictions was received, according to representatives of the Court of Appeal. Usually, a court will firstly evaluate such applications without holding a hearing. Those who have been found guilty have the option to resubmit their appeal if it is rejected at a full court hearing before two or three judges.
Complex Motives and Heinous Crimes
Letby's motives for her actions remain unclear, but the complexity of her crimes suggests a level of planning. She was accused of deliberately harming infants in various ways, including injecting air into their bloodstreams, administering air or milk via nasogastric tubes into their stomachs, and poisoning them by adding insulin to intravenous feeds or interfering with breathing tubes.
"Whole-Life Order"
Letby was given a rare "whole-life order" by Judge James Goss, which means she will remain imprisoned for the rest of her life without the chance of parole. Her actions, in his words, exhibited "malevolence bordering on sadism." Only three other women in the UK have ever been given such a harsh punishment.
Independent Inquiry Launched
Following the verdicts, the British government initiated an independent inquiry to investigate the broader circumstances surrounding the hospital's operations, including how staff-raised concerns were handled. The inquiry aims to shed light on the events at the Countess of Chester Hospital and address any systemic issues that may have contributed to the tragic outcomes.
