Three senior hospital managers have been arrested by British police on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter as part of investigations into nurse Lucy Letby, convicted two years ago of killing babies in a neonatal unit in Chester, England, reports Reuters.
Letby (35), is serving a life sentence after being found guilty of murdering seven newborns and attempting to murder eight more between June 2015 and June 2016 while she was working at the Countess of Chester Hospital (CoCH).
Described as Britain’s worst serial child killer of modern times, Letby has consistently maintained her innocence but has been refused permission to appeal against her convictions, and told she would never be released.
After her sentencing, however, police started investigating possible corporate manslaughter offences at the hospital, an inquiry that was later widened to consider if individuals might be guilty of gross negligence manslaughter.
Detective Superintendent Paul Hughes, who is leading the probe, told Reuters three members of the hospital’s senior leadership team had been arrested on Monday, and later released on bail, pending further inquires.
Both the corporate manslaughter and gross negligence manslaughter elements of the investigation were continuing and “there are no set time scales for these”.
Challenge to evidence
Hughes said a police investigation was continuing into whether Letby had committed more crimes at the hospital and at another unit where she had previously worked.
Since the trial, some lawmakers, medical experts and other specialists have publicly challenged the prosecution evidence that was used to find her guilty.
The Criminal Cases Review Commission, which examines potential miscarriages of justice, is considering an application from Letby’s legal team, and last month, former Health Minister Jeremy Hunt said the case should be urgently re-examined.
Kate Blackwell, a lawyer for the hospital’s senior managers, told a public inquiry examining how the murders were able to take place that there were other explanations for the deaths which needed to be considered.
She said the managers strongly denied accusations that they “deliberately and knowingly” protected a murderer.
The findings of the public inquiry are due to be published early next year after the chairman rejected calls for her work to be paused.
Reuters article – UK police arrest three hospital managers in Lucy Letby investigation (Open access)
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