This blog tells stories taken from my work in consultancy, research, and in various fights for truth and justice. I’m interested in miscarriages of justice, abuse of statistical science (and of science in general), scientific integrity, forensic statistics, forensic reasoning. I’m a mathematician, a probabilist, a statistician, a scientist. Fascinated by foundational issues in quantum mechanics, probability, statistics.
E-mail: gill@math.leidenuniv.nl; gill1109@gmail.com
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This is worth a listen, seems apposite.
( you may have to use a UK-based server as BBC iplayer can be fussy with o/seas IPs )
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001k7vt?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile
BBC R4 Law in Action, broadcast 23 March 2023, article begins around 6m30s in.
Your research and work on the Letby case is essential and appreciated by many who find it hard to be heard over the prevailing narrative.
I hope Ms Letby is able to see it, and i naively hope she will not actually need it.
I endorse your comments. If guilty It should be no surprise that Lucy L’s character would be . attacked from many directions. Historically, execution, stoning , ducking was carried out in public presumably as a last opportunity to humiliate the offender and to witness the punishment. Some knitted during the proceedings.
In the last few days, Lucy L. has been described as the subject of an “empty life”. I think that it would be more accurate to say that during the years since the problems became apparent at CoCH , Lucy L., might well have experienced increasing isolation and loneliness. Some of her very good friends remained constant and loyal but some did not. Thoughts of her situation were probably filled with horror and especially so if the charges against her were unfounded.
On the basis of a majority verdict a jury has found her guilty and she is serving her sentence. However, in my opinion the ongoing and very relevant questions about the case are a very good indication that she has not been “Proven Guilty Beyond All Reasonable Doubt “.
PS.,
When the police visited the parents of the vulnerable infants- who did not survive – to be informed that deliberate harm was involved in the deaths of their children, their grief was not only renewed but exacerbated. They might well have come to terms with death by natural causes but belief that deliberate harm had occurred would probably be very hard to forget – more probably be something always in mind.
A full and transparent review based on up to date experts in various disciplines is needed for the sake of UK.,justice, Lucy L., and the grieving parents for whom it could also be a contribution to healing.
Thank you for your great inpsiring work and thoughtful opinions. Please feel free to be in touch with me. I am a neonatal specialist, legal adviser, midwife, mediator … parent of twins born 3 months early and long time critic of the NMC and NHS in attempts to improve these systems. I am now writing a book on Lucy Letby in a series of book on Miscarriages of Justice – Is Lucy Innocent? I will also write on the Constance Marten case where she and her partner are in a London jail mostly for giving birth outside the system. I have worked as a home birth midwife globally. (Interestingly some of our clients are drs and lawyers who know they would get traumatised in the hospital systems).
Ok if you would like to read a preview of the book or scan read even the contents you are very welcome
If i can contribute in any way to your work feel free to let me know
Paul Golden
linkedin.com/in/goldenpaul
Thank you, yes I will be in touch with you!
The terms of the SI., included Management of the hospital but seemed to pay insufficient attention to physical aspects of the ward which were an important consideration for the 14 experts present at the recent press conference. It is my impression that the SI., was focused on examining the possibility of any management issues which may have allowed deliberate harm to occur.
Dr Shoo Lee concluded that this had not happened but the standards of care fell short etc., This outcome might not be universally helpful.
THE TRUTH
Many years ago , as a young(ish) adult, I was told by someone needing a convenient argument, that there are many “truths”. To name a few there is the whole truth, there are half truths ( ranging to white lies) , there are convenient truths and so on.
The bereaved parents of the CoCH NICU babies involved in this case were initially informed of the deaths of their children truthfully according to the facts known at that time and as they were reported to the Coroner’s Office..
The press conference held on 4.2. 2025 provided more basis for the this understanding following expert examination of the relevant medical records which found that there was no suspicion of mafeasance just poor care and the presence of infection in some cases.
Apart from the introduction of the mention of infection and care standards not much differed from initial reports to the Coroner.
However, the findings of Dr Shoo Lee and his team of experts differed considerably from the information passed to the Police in a controversial report which made no mention of infection etc.,
Meanwhile Lucy L., has been convicted and sentenced to lifelong imprisonment and has already spent 7 years ( I believe) locked away – an abomination if, as I believe, she is innocent of all charges.
No one saw her carrying out any of the evil actions of which she has been accused either virtually or actually. Her colleagues were largely very happy with her performance as a nurse. She has been described as exemplary.
Dr Shoo Lee and his experts examined case notes individually seeking opinions where needed and reached an agreed view that there were no murders or murderers but the poorly babies in question may have required more and better care.
Consideration must now be given to the conditions on the ward, the dependency of the babies ( surely very high), the adequacy of the staff ( both numbers and skills) and the allocation of resources etc., No lessons will be learned if these aspects are not addressed and the possible future cost could be considerable.
Lucy L., will , no doubt, suffer severe damage to her mental and possibly physical health together with no opportunity to achieve any personal goals or the joy that we al[ reasonably hope for during our lives.