Lucy Letby: Doctor at heart of new claims from nurse’s lawyers says they are ‘unsubstantiated, unfounded, inaccurate’
The doctor at the heart of new claims from Lucy Letby’s lawyers has said they are “unsubstantiated, unfounded, inaccurate”.
The nurse’s new lawyer Mark McDonald said on Monday in a press conference that Dr Dewi Evans “changed his mind on the cause of death of three of the babies” killed by Lucy Letby.
Dr Evans was said to have told the jury that Letby had injected air down a nasal gastric tube of three babies, referred to as infants C, I and P.
Mark McDonald, representing Lucy Letby, speaking at a press conference on Monday.
Pic: PA
Letby’s legal team said he had changed his mind and this meant all of her convictions should be reviewed.
But in response, Dr Evans said in a statement: “Mr Mark McDonald’s observations regarding my evidence is unsubstantiated, unfounded, inaccurate.
“His method of presenting his information reflects clear prejudice and bias.
“I cannot recall any KC advocating on behalf of a client via a press conference, especially a case of such sensitivity.
“I find his style most unedifying, most unprofessional.
“It’s highly disrespectful to the families of babies murdered and harmed by Lucy Letby.
“The only place appropriate to deal with any potential appeal is the relevant court.
“If required, I would be pleased to give evidence in the usual way; on oath, subject to cross-examination, and where my evidence is placed in the public domain.
“I would expect any other participant to agree to the same principles.
“Anything disclosed through any other source is, as Lady Thirlwall put it so eloquently, just ‘noise’.”
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In response, Mr McDonald said: “Dr Evans has written a new report on Baby C, 12 months after Lucy Letby was convicted, please can this be disclosed to the defence.
“This issue of reliability of any prosecution medical expert is now a matter for the Court of Appeal and Criminal Cases Review Commissions but certainly the disclosure of this new report may help them in deciding this question.”
Letby is serving 15 whole life terms in prison for the murder of seven babies and the attempted murder of seven others while working at the Countess of Chester Hospital in 2015 and 2016.
She attempted to challenge her convictions at the Court of Appeal twice this year, but lost both bids.
There is an ongoing public inquiry into how Letby was able to kill and carry on killing at the Countess of Chester Hospital.
Its findings are expected to be published in autumn next year.
Police are also continuing their investigation into Letby and the care of hundreds of other babies she looked after during her career.
Detectives have confirmed they interviewed the former nurse under caution in prison over more deaths and incidents in Chester and also at Liverpool Women’s Hospital, where she spent time on placement in 2012 and early 2015.
A 53-year-old man has been charged after a car was driven into a crowd at Liverpool FC’s trophy parade.
Paul Doyle, from the West Derby area of Liverpool, has been charged with seven offences, Merseyside Police said.
The businessman, who is a father-of-three, is accused of two counts of unlawful and malicious wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and two counts of causing unlawful and malicious grievous bodily harm with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Paul Doyle
Doyle is also accused of two counts of attempted unlawful and malicious grievous bodily harm with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and one count of dangerous driving.
He is due to appear before Liverpool Magistrates Court on Friday.
The charges relate to six people, including two children. A wounding charge and an attempted grievous bodily harm charge relate to a child.
A police car was outside Doyle’s four-bedroom detached family home in the West Derby area on Thursday morning.
According to his social media, he has travelled extensively including Japan, Fiji, India and Australia. Doyle has posted pictures of himself competing in triathlons, and climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.
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New Liverpool incident footage
Thousands of fans were gathered in Liverpool city centre on Monday to celebrate the Premier League champions’ title win when a car struck a crowd on Water Street.
Police said a total of 79 people were injured in the incident, with the youngest aged nine, and the oldest being a 78-year-old.
Seven people remain in hospital in a stable condition.
Forensic officers at the scene in Water Street. Pic: PA
‘Huge volume of evidence’
Chief crown prosecutor for the CPS Mersey-Cheshire, Sarah Hammond, told a news conference on Thursday that the investigation was at an early stage and a “huge volume of evidence” was being reviewed.
“This includes multiple pieces of video footage and numerous witness statements. It is important to ensure that every victim gets the justice they deserve.
“The charges will be kept under review as the investigation progresses.”
Police ‘working tirelessly’
Also at the briefing where the charges were announced was Assistant Chief Constable of Merseyside Police, Jenny Sims, who said: “I fully understand how this incident has left us all shocked and saddened, and I know many will continue to have concerns and questions.
“Our detectives are working tirelessly, with diligence and professionalism, to seek the answer to all of those questions. When we are able to, we will provide further information.”
The youngest victim injured in the Liverpool parade crash on Monday is nine years old, police have said.
They added that the oldest is 78, with all 79 people injured understood to be British. Seven remain in hospital in a stable condition.
Merseyside Police declined to say what drug the 53-year-old man arrested over the incident is alleged to have taken.
“We wouldn’t go into this detail at this stage of the investigation,” the force said.
Police at the scene in Liverpool. Pic: AP
Forensic officers in Water Street. Pic: PA
Police are still questioning the driver and were granted further time to do so on Wednesday.
Officers have until Thursday evening to question the man from West Derby.
He is in custody on suspicion of attempted murder, dangerous driving and drug driving.
Police believe the car which struck pedestrians was able to follow an ambulance crew attending to someone suffering a heart attack after a road block was temporarily lifted.
Hundreds of thousands of Liverpool fans had turned out to celebrate their team’s Premier League title when the incident unfolded on Water Street just after 6pm on Monday.
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‘My boy in his pram, got bounced’
‘The best day of my life turned into worst’
Sky News interviewed a lifelong Liverpool fan who said his five-month-old son was “bounced” 15ft (4.6m) in his pram after they were hit by the vehicle.
The child was not counted in the police’s injury tally.
Daniel Eveson, 36, also said his partner had been driven over.
“The best day of my life turned into [the] worst,” Mr Eveson said.
He added: “Me and my partner were flat on the roof, on the bonnet… we were just both trying to hold on for dear life with Ted next to us.
“And my partner went under the wheels of the car, of the front of the car, and it rolled over her leg, and I just bounced off to the side, but my boy and his pram got bounced totally in the opposite direction – about 15ft down the road.”
Read more:
How the parade crash unfolded
Police given more time to question Liverpool suspect
Why police released ‘unprecedented’ details
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer travelled to Liverpool to meet with police chiefs and the local metro mayor.
He said he was being kept informed of developments, adding: “The scenes on Monday were just awful, to see how incredible joy at an amazing achievement turned to horror in a moment.”
Messages of support have been sent to the people of Liverpool, including from the King who said: “I know that the strength of community spirit for which your city is renowned will be a comfort and support to those in need.”
The Prince and Princess of Wales said they were “deeply saddened” by the incident.
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