May 24, 2024, 9:45 AM
May 24, 2024, 12:00 AM

Former nurse Lucy Letby denied appeal for baby murders convictions

Tragic
Highlights
  • Former nurse Lucy Letby, convicted of murdering seven babies, was denied permission to appeal her convictions.
  • The judge rejected Letby's claims of unfair trial proceedings that led to her 14 whole life terms sentencing.
  • Letby's bid to challenge murder and attempted murder convictions was unsuccessful.
Story

Child serial killer Lucy Letby has been denied permission to appeal against her convictions for the murder and attempted murder of babies in her care. The judges at the Court of Appeal in London rejected her application to appeal. Letby, a former nurse, was found guilty of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder six others at the Countess of Chester Hospital between 2015 and 2016. She will face a retrial on a single count of attempted murder in June. Letby's lawyers asked senior judges for approval to bring an appeal against her convictions. The judges refused to allow the appeal, ending the appeal process for Letby. The full details of her appeal bid, which was based on four points, cannot be reported for legal reasons. The reasons for the judges' decision were not made public. Letby, originally from Hereford, was handed 14 whole life terms last year after being found guilty of the crimes. She lost the first stage of the appeal process and then renewed her application before a panel of judges at the Court of Appeal. The media is not allowed to report the full details of the appeal hearing and the judges' decision to avoid prejudice. A public inquiry into events at the Countess of Chester Hospital is planned, with hearings expected in the autumn. Letby will face a retrial on one charge of attempted murder in June. The identities of the children involved cannot be reported.

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