Experts Question Reliability of Insulin Test in Lucy Letby Case

A group of pediatric and toxicology experts have produced a report challenging the reliability of insulin test results used in the prosecution of Lucy Letby, who was convicted of murdering several infants. This report could impact her ongoing appeals for justice.

Seven pediatric doctors and toxicology specialists have raised serious concerns about the reliability of insulin test results that played a crucial role in the trial against Lucy Letby, a nurse found guilty of murdering seven infants in a UK hospital. This new report was presented by Letby’s lawyer to the British Criminal Cases Review Commission, which examines potential miscarriages of justice and seeks to reopen her case for appeal.

Letby, who worked in the neonatal unit, faced accusations of intentionally harming and killing babies through various harmful methods, including insulin poisoning. In their report, the experts asserted that jurors were misled by the prosecution's reliance on the insulin test, claiming that the evidence presented in court lacked validity. They stated, “Our inescapable conclusion is that this evidence significantly undermines the validity of the assertions made about the insulin and C-peptide testing presented in Court.”

Letby, who has consistently maintained her innocence, received a 15-life sentence following her conviction in 2023. In the wake of ongoing debates concerning her guilt—exacerbated by an extensive article published in the New Yorker in May 2024—her legal team has repeatedly sought to overturn the conviction, only to face continuous rejections. The experts’ findings may play a critical role in her effort to pursue a complete appeal.