‘Lucy Letby must be forgiven’ says church newspaper as it slams baby-killer nurse’s convictions
The Church of England Newspaper has sparked controversy by publishing an article calling for forgiveness for Lucy Letby, the former nurse convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to kill seven others.
Letby, 35, is serving 15 whole-life sentences for her crimes at the Countess of Chester Hospital between 2015 and 2016. The article, which suggests Letby could be innocent, has been met with dismay by the families of the victims.
The piece references claims by leading neonatologist Professor Shoo Lee, who argued last month that the deaths could have been caused by poor care, infected sinks, or overworked staff, rather than Letby’s actions. The newspaper’s leader column describes Letby as having been “monstered, in ways reminiscent of medieval women being demonised as witches and executed.” It also praises her barrister, Mark McDonald, as “a light of generosity and concern for justice.”
The article questions Letby’s guilt, stating, “There is now a convincing analysis of the fate of those babies in Chester…those who monstered Letby must realise that this may have been a mistake.” It also draws a comparison to a historic miscarriage of justice involving a captain wrongly jailed in the 1800s.
The Church of England Newspaper, which is independent of the Anglican hierarchy, has faced criticism for its stance. Ken Macdonald KC, a former supporter of Letby’s conviction, has since said that Professor Lee’s evidence “comprehensively trashed the prosecution case.” The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) is now assessing Letby’s case, which involves a “significant volume of complicated evidence.”
The Church of England declined to comment on the article. Meanwhile, the families of Letby’s victims continue to grapple with the devastating impact of her crimes, as the debate over her guilt and the call for forgiveness reignites painful memories.
