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Guernsey expert's evidence called into question in political plea for retrial

Guernsey expert's evidence called into question in political plea for retrial

Thursday 09 January 2025

Guernsey expert's evidence called into question in political plea for retrial

Thursday 09 January 2025


The evidence given by a Guernsey-based paediatrician during the prosecution of Lucy Letby for murdering seven babies and seven counts of attempting to murder six others has been called into question by a senior MP during a speech to the UK's House of Commons.

Medico-legal expert Dr Sandie Bohin was one of the prosecution witnesses credited with helping to secure the conviction of the baby killer after her trial in 2023.

Letby was later found guilty of the attempted murder of a seventh baby at a retrial in 2024.

Her attempts to appeal her convictions have failed. 

However, there is a groundswell of support for her with some people – including a Sark-based medico-legal expert – calling for her case to be looked at again.

Yesterday, senior Conservative MP, Sir David Davis called for a retrial of the convicted serial killer in a speech to the UK's House of Commons.

Press conference by Britain's Secretary of State for Exiting the EU David Davis and EU Commission member in charge of Brexit negotiations with Britain,Michel Barnier in Brussels,Belgium Jul. 17,2017

Pictured: Sir David Davis in 2017, when he was Britain's Secretary of States for Exiting the EU. 

Sir David said he had originally been convinced of the former neonatal nurse's guilt, but has changed his mind and now believes "there was no hard evidence against Letby" and that "nobody saw her do anything untoward".

Sir David said Letby's conviction had been based on a series of coincidences, including the fact that she was working when some of the babies had died.

He called in to question the prosecution evidence given by Consultant Paediatrician Dr Dewi Evans, and referenced Dr Bohin and the complaints raised against her locally.

"Questions have also been raised about the second expert witness for the prosecution, Dr Sandie Bohin," he said.

"Eight families are currently filing formal complaints against her over their children's care, which are being considered by the General Medical Council." 

Sir David told the House of Commons, "There is a case in justice, in my view, for a retrial."

He said there is a problem that "much of the evidence was available at the time" but was "simply not presented to the jury".

"This means the Court of Appeal can dismiss it, basically saying the defence should have presented it at the initial trial," he said. "It is in essence saying, 'if your defence team weren't good enough to present this evidence, hard luck, you stay banged-up for life'. Now that may be judicially convenient, but it's not justice."

Letby has already had two attempts at appealing her convictions rejected by the UK's Court of Appeal.

In May 2024 she tried to appeal her original conviction for the seven murders and seven attempted murders, and in October she asked to appeal her conviction for the attempted murder of the seventh baby. Both were refused.

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