30 January 2024 , 17:20
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Child serial killer Lucy Letby has had an initial bid to challenge her convictions refused by the Court of Appeal.
The nurse lodged an application for permission to appeal against all of her convictions in September. A judge has since refused her application after considering the case documents, a judicial spokeswoman confirmed on Tuesday.
In August 2023, Letby, 34, of Hereford, was sentenced to 14 whole life orders after she was convicted of the murders of seven babies and the attempted murders of six others, with two attempts on one of her victims.
The offences took place at the Countess of Chester Hospital's neonatal unit, where nurse Letby worked, between June 2015 and June 2016. Typically, applications for permission to appeal against a crown court decision are considered by a judge looking at legal documents without a hearing.
If this is refused, people have 14 days to renew their bid for permission at a full court hearing before two or three judges. The jury in Letby's trial at Manchester Crown Court was unable to reach verdicts on six counts of attempted murder in relation to five children.
Lucy Letby guilty of murdering 7 babies as Angel of Death faces life sentence
Body worn footage shows the moment Letby was arrested (PA)Letby will face a retrial at the same court in June on a single count that she attempted to murder a baby girl, known as Child K, in February 2016. A court order prohibits reporting of the identities of the surviving and dead children who were the subject of the allegations.
Meanwhile, the killer has been given a key to her own cell in a move that has infuriated her victims’ families. The perk means Letby can hide from other lags whenever she wants and lock herself in if she feels threatened. It is understood to be given to convicts as an incentive for good behaviour.
One grieving parent told the Sunday Mirror: “We thought they were throwing away the key, and now we find out that she has her own key.” And a prison insider said: “It means if she wants to socialise she can, and if she wants privacy she can have that too. It’s really no different to living in a hotel – but you’re surrounded by criminals.”
Letby with Emily Morris and her baby Alvin in the Countess of Chester Hospital (Emily Morris / SWNS)Letby now enjoys the VIP treatment at privately owned category A HMP Bronzefield after being moved from Low Newton jail in Co Durham. The Surrey women’s prison has rooms instead of cells – fitted with an en suite shower, desk, phone and television.
In October it was revealed Letby had ganged up with Welsh baby killer Michelle Smith, who poisoned her daughter in 2007, and Shauna Hoare who helped her boyfriend kill 16-year-old Bristol schoolgirl Becky Watts in 2015. A Bronzefield source said the trio spent “hours playing board games” and enjoying karaoke nights.
During a 10-month trial, Manchester Crown Court heard how Letby had written notes saying “I am evil I did this” and “I killed them on purpose because I am not good enough”. Labour’s City of Chester MP Samantha Dixon last week hit out at Bronzefield Prison bosses over the decision to give the killer her own key.
She said: “Those charged with her imprisonment need to explain why they feel she can be trusted with a key to her own cell. It doesn’t feel right or fair.”