Eyewitness Email Casts Doubt on Letby Conviction

A critical email from 2017 has emerged, potentially undermining a key eyewitness account in the Lucy Letby case. Consultant Dr. Ravi Jayaram's correspondence to fellow doctors stated that nurse Letby alerted him to a baby's declining oxygen saturation. This directly contrasts with his testimony during the trial, where he told jurors he found Letby with the premature infant as oxygen levels plummeted, without her raising an alarm.

The Thirlwall Inquiry's final report has acknowledged this discrepancy, noting that Dr. Jayaram's statement about being called by Letby differed from his court evidence. The inquiry report highlighted that no questions were asked about this difference during the trial. Furthermore, Dr. Jayaram reportedly did not report his suspicions for over a year, failed to make medical notes, and did not file an incident report at the time.

This revelation comes amidst broader questions about the investigation. Former Assistant Chief Constable Dr. Steve Watts has claimed police focused on Letby early on, potentially overlooking alternative explanations. Cheshire Police, however, strongly dispute criticisms, asserting that their six-year investigation was thorough. The force remains confident in the integrity of their investigation and the court's decisions, emphasizing their thoughts are with the families.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the Countess of Chester Hospital acknowledged public interest but cited ongoing legal processes, preventing comment on matters under investigation by Cheshire Police. The hospital indicated that further information regarding strengthened patient safety measures and actions addressing the Thirlwall Report's findings would be provided when appropriate. Both Dr. Stephen Brearey and Dr. Ravi Jayaram declined to comment on the matter.