Witness changes testimony in Lucy Letby case, prompting fresh appeal

In the UK, Lucy Letby's lawyer announced plans to reopen her appeal based on new evidence regarding the reliability of the prosecution's lead medical expert, Dr. Dewi Evans. Letby, a former nurse, was convicted in 2019 of murdering seven babies and attempting to kill seven others while working at the Countess of Chester Hospital. The lawyer, Mark McDonald, stated that Dr. Evans has altered his opinions on the cause of death for several of the babies, raising concerns about the safety of the convictions. Notably, Evans initially attributed the deaths to air injections but has since changed his position, claiming that certain babies may not have died from this method. New reports from two consultant neonatologists supporting Letby’s defence have further contested the original claims. They argue that the deaths were due to medical issues rather than deliberate harm. The court of appeal had previously denied Letby's application to appeal on similar grounds shortly before the recent press conference. Following the appeal refusal, which occurred in May 2024, Letby’s defense team garnered new expert testimonies to challenge the prosecution. This situation has sparked debate regarding the reliability of expert witnesses in criminal cases, especially in those involving serious accusations like murder. The implications of such changes in testimony highlight potential issues within the judicial process, leading to calls for more thorough evaluations of expert reports in sensitive cases involving life and death situations.