Expert Challenges Letby Conviction in Baby O Case

A new report concludes that Baby O, a triplet who died two days after birth, likely suffered a fatal liver injury during delivery. Professor Phil Bennett of Imperial College London argues that the trauma resulted from a difficult birth in June 2016 at the Countess of Chester Hospital. This challenges the previous assertion that Lucy Letby murdered the infant by injecting air and inflicting trauma.

The report has been forwarded to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) as it reviews Letby's conviction. Concerns have been raised about the evidence presented to the jury during the original trial. Professor Bennett noted that difficult deliveries of triplets at 32 weeks can lead to injury, and the typical presentation of such trauma aligns with Baby O's condition.

Letby's defense team stated they did not receive full access to maternity notes, hindering their ability to present a complete picture. The defense argues that an innocent woman remains imprisoned due to incomplete evidence. The Countess of Chester Hospital has since apologized for past poor maternity services and stated that significant improvements have been made. The CCRC is currently deciding whether to refer the case back to the Court of Appeal.