Lucy Letby denied appeal in attempted murder conviction after court rules media coverage didn’t prevent fair trial
Lucy
Letby Denied Appeal Against Attempted Murder Conviction Amid Media Scrutiny
LONDON
— Lucy Letby, the former nurse convicted of murdering seven infants and
attempting to murder seven others, was refused permission to appeal her
conviction for attempting to murder Baby K, a baby girl, during a hearing at
the court of appeal in London on Thursday.
Letby,
34, who is currently serving 14 whole-life sentences, argued that she had been
denied a fair trial due to hostile media coverage before her retrial. Her
defense team, led by barrister Benjamin Myers KC, pointed to what they
described as “highly prejudicial and emotive” comments from police and
prosecutors, who publicly labeled Letby as “evil” and “manipulative.”
Myers
contended that public opinion, shaped by intense media coverage, could have
influenced the jury, despite 10 months passing between her initial conviction
and the retrial. He cited instances of negative coverage, such as ITV’s debate
on whether Letby was “born evil,” and argued that the overwhelming public
commentary should have precluded the retrial from proceeding.
However,
Lord Justice Davis, alongside two other senior judges, dismissed the appeal,
stating that Letby had been given a fair trial despite the media scrutiny. The
judges highlighted the “fade factor,” noting that much of the negative media
attention occurred immediately after her original convictions and would have
diminished by the time of her retrial.
Nick
Johnson KC, representing the prosecution, emphasized that most of the criticism
was directed toward the hospital management for allowing Letby to continue
working despite concerns raised by senior doctors. Johnson also noted that a
"pro-Lucy Letby" article published in The New Yorker just before the
retrial provided balance to the media narrative, further undercutting claims
that public opinion had been irreversibly shaped against her.
Letby
has consistently maintained her innocence. Her legal team is preparing to
request a review of the case from the Criminal Cases Review Commission, which
may scrutinize the broader circumstances surrounding her convictions. However,
Thursday’s ruling dealt solely with the retrial process for Baby K.
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