Letby hires new barrister to fight murder charges

Lucy Letby has appointed a new barrister, Mark McDonald of Furnival Chambers, to help overturn her conviction by arguing that the evidence presented during her trial was unreliable. McDonald, who specialises in criminal defence, is currently gathering expert testimonies for the case.

Letby, a former nurse, had initially been represented by Ben Myers KC, with whom she formed a strong rapport. It has been confirmed that Myers will continue to lead Letby’s appeal against her recent conviction for the attempted murder of Baby K. However, McDonald will handle the case before the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), focusing on the reliability of the evidence rather than claiming deficiencies in the original defence team.

In August 2023, Letby was convicted of murdering seven newborns and attempting to murder six others. A retrial that concluded in July also found her guilty of attempting to murder another infant. Recently, several doctors, scientists, and statisticians have emerged, contesting how the evidence was interpreted and presented to the jury.

This transition in Letby’s legal representation comes ahead of an inquiry set to begin next week into the hospital where she worked. McDonald emphasised, “You don’t win a case by arguing that the defence was bad, but rather by proving that the evidence presented was unreliable. Numerous experts are stepping forward to question the evidence.”

Letby received multiple whole-life sentences, indicating she will spend the rest of her life in prison. Two prior applications to appeal her convictions have been denied. However, the CCRC has stated, “Applications can be made by anyone who believes they have been wrongly convicted or sentenced, or by their representatives.”

McDonald expressed confidence in Letby’s innocence, stating that “juries get it wrong” and asserting that there is a “strong case” to support her claim.