The case of convicted child serial killer Lucy Letby is to be reviewed by a commission that investigates potential miscarriages of justice.
The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) received an application from her lawyers on Monday and said that work has already begun to assess the case, which involves “a significant volume of complicated evidence”.
Its announcement came minutes before a press conference organised by her legal team, where they claim a panel of experts on the care of newborn babies will present what they say is “significant new medical evidence”.
Opening the event, MP Sir David Davis described her convictions as “one of the major injustices of modern times”.
Letby, 35, from Hereford, is serving 15 whole-life orders after she was convicted at Manchester Crown Court of murdering seven infants and attempting to murder seven others, with two attempts on one of her victims, between June 2015 and June 2016.
The babies were attacked by various means while the defendant worked as a nurse on the neonatal unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital.
A CCRC spokesperson said: “We are aware that there has been a great deal of speculation and commentary surrounding Lucy Letby’s case, much of it from parties with only a partial view of the evidence.
“We ask that everyone remembers the families affected by events at the Countess of Chester Hospital between June 2015 and June 2016.
“We have received a preliminary application in relation to Ms Letby’s case, and work has begun to assess the application. We anticipate further submissions being made to us.
“It is not for the CCRC to determine innocence or guilt in a case, that’s a matter for the courts.
“It is for the CCRC to find, investigate and if appropriate, refer potential miscarriages of justice to the appellate courts when new evidence or new argument means there is a real possibility that a conviction will not be upheld, or a sentence reduced.
“At this stage it is not possible to determine how long it will take to review this application. A significant volume of complicated evidence was presented to the court in Ms Letby’s trials.
“The CCRC is independent. We do not work for the government, courts, police, the prosecution or for anyone applying for a review of their case. This helps us investigate alleged miscarriages of justice impartially.”
