BACKGROUND

In August 2023, nurse Lucy Letby was found guilty of murdering seven infants and attempting to murder six others. A further conviction of attempted murder was added in July the following year, resulting in Lucy being sentenced to a total of 15 whole life orders.

In every case, there was not a single piece of hard evidence to prove beyond reasonable doubt that any crimes were committed. There was no forensic or digital evidence, no eyewitness, no formal confession and no clear motive. Lucy was instead found guilty on extremely weak and misleading medical and circumstantial evidence.

Since the verdicts were passed, a chorus of prominent scientists, healthcare professionals, statisticians and psychologists have voiced their concerns, with each challenging the evidence relevant to their own field of expertise.

A number of politicians and journalists have also weighed in and deemed the conviction as highly unsafe, echoed too by the much respected former Supreme Court Judge, Lord Sumption. 

Perhaps most compelling of all, an international panel of 14 medical experts, led by the world renowned neonatologist Dr Shoo Lee, have meticulously examined each death and collapse and found no evidence of deliberate harm whatsoever. For each tragic event, they were able to provide an alternative explanation. 


WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN NEXT?

Following Lucy’s application, the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) are now tasked with conducting an exhaustive examination of the evidence submitted to them.

It is essential that they work in a way that puts justice, fairness and objectivity at the heart of their investigation and that they refer the case back to the Court of Appeal in a timely manner.

From there, the Court of Appeal will hold a hearing and the panel of judges have the power to quash the convictions if they deem them unsafe. This could then result in them either ordering a retrial or acquitting Lucy entirely.  

Both bodies must act swiftly to ensure that Lucy does not spend any more of her prime years unnecessarily incarcerated, when it is looking increasingly likely that she is completely innocent of any wrongdoing.


WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

The case of Lucy Letby will almost certainly rank among the most notorious miscarriages of justice this country has ever seen, casting a huge shadow over an institution we should all have faith in.

It is therefore urgent that this case is looked at again in the interests of not just Lucy's future, but also British Justice as a whole, to once again restore public confidence in it.

Lessons must be learned regarding unchallenged expert testimony being delivered to lay juries and the dangers of sentencing individuals to long or indefinite jail terms, based largely on circumstantial evidence.

“When the scales of justice are balanced, everyone feels the weight of fairness.” 


This petition was written by and is maintained by The Yellow Butterfly Group.

On 02/05/25 at 4365 signatures, it was updated to reflect all the latest ongoing developments in the case.