Letby renews appeal against murder convictions

It has been announced that 34-year-old Letby, who was found guilty in August 2023 of murdering seven babies and attempting to kill six others at the hospital where she worked as a neonatal nurse, has renewed her application to appeal her convictions.

An initial application by Letby was rejected last week and she was given 14 days to reapply.

This renewed application will be heard before three judges in court who will decide whether Letby may appeal the convictions.

In a statement this afternoon, a spokesperson for the Judicial Office said: "Lucy Letby has renewed her application to appeal against her convictions.

"There will be a hearing before a full court of three judges to decide whether leave to appeal should be granted.

"No date has yet been fixed for the hearing."

Letby was handed a whole-life prison order by Mr Justice Gross at Manchester Crown Court last summer, for the murders and attempted murders which she committed at Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust between June 2015 and June 2016.

The judge, in his sentencing remarks, said Letby had acted in a way that was "completely contrary to the normal human instincts of nurturing and caring for babies". He further pointed out her lack of remorse.

In September, Letby's legal team announced the first application to appeal.

Meanwhile, at the end of 2023, Letby was formally struck off the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) professional register by a fitness-to-practise panel which said her actions had a "profound impact on the reputation of the nursing profession".

A statutory inquiry into how Letby was able to commit her crimes was recently opened and is being chaired by Lady Justice Thirlwall.