Netflix’s Next Big True Crime Series Needs To Actually Solve This Case

Netflix's Next Big True Crime Series Needs To Actually Solve This Case

Key Takeaways

  • Netflix aims to investigate the controversial Lucy Letby case to uncover the real truth.
  • Similar to other true-crime documentaries, the upcoming Lucy Letby documentary has the potential to question the justice system.
  • Experts have questioned the flawed evidence and trial procedures used to convict Letby.

As a seasoned investigative journalist with decades of experience delving into the murky depths of human nature and the workings of institutions, I find myself deeply troubled by the Lucy Letby case. The apparent miscarriage of justice that seems to have occurred in this tragic saga is a stark reminder of the need for transparency and due process in our legal system.


In partnership, Netflix and ITN are creating a documentary focusing on Lucy Letby and the escalating questions about her murder verdict. The convicted nurse is known for allegedly taking the lives of seven infants and attempting to kill six more. The upcoming documentary is said to include professionals who have expressed uncertainty about Letby’s conviction, hinting that Netflix may aim to unravel the enigma surrounding this high-profile case.

The Lucy Letby documentary aims to shed light on the questionable aspects of the United Kingdom’s judicial system, while uncovering the true facts surrounding a contentious case. This documentary is expected to spark discussion about the integrity of the UK legal system in much the same way that Netflix’s “Making a Murderer” brought attention to concerns regarding the American justice system after questioning the convictions of Steven Avery and Brendan Dassey for the murder of Theresa Halbach in Wisconsin.

Netflix’s Upcoming Documentary About Lucy Letby Will Investigate The Issues Behind Her Conviction

Netflix's Next Big True Crime Series Needs To Actually Solve This Case
Untitled Lucy Letby Documentary
Potential ContributorsRichard Gill, Peter Green, David Davis, Mark McDonald, Jane Hutton and Dr Shoo Lee
Air DateTBC
Produced byNetflix and ITN

The power of true-crime documentaries in the re-investigation of murder cases cannot be underestimated, especially when Netflix is behind it. The streaming service created a phenomenon with their true-crime documentary series, Making a Murderer, and it arguably led to the case being looked at again. The question over whether Steven Avery and Brendan Dassey were guilty of murder became irrelevant, as concerns were raised about the collection of evidence and the so-called ‘experts’ who testified at the trials. The issue became about whether Avery and especially Dassey were the victims of an ‘unsafe conviction’. If the authorities are willing to frame suspects who they think are guilty, it sets a very dangerous precedent for all defendants in these types of cases.

Netflix’s upcoming true crime series delves into a case distinct from that portrayed in “Making a Murderer.” This case, revolving around Lucy Letby, may shed light on the inner workings (or lack thereof) of the justice system overseas. Due to restrictions on media coverage during her trial, which only ended after a verdict was announced, several questions have arisen. The trial of Lucy Letby is one of the longest in UK history, and a court order was enforced to prevent any reporting on it. This unusual circumstance raises concerns about the UK’s history of railroading innocent individuals and suppressing such cases. It’s important to note that this doesn’t necessarily imply Lucy Letby’s innocence. However, following her conviction, numerous experts have expressed grave doubts about the trial’s conduct. Netflix now has a unique chance to reexamine the case with fresh perspective and potentially unveil the true facts.

Lucy Letby Was Convicted Of Murdering Seven Babies But The Case Against Her Was Extremely Weak And Many Experts Have Raised Concerns About It

An Overview Of The Lucy Letby Case

  • Letby was accused of murdering seven infants and attempting to kill 10 more between 2015 and 2016 at the Countess of Chester Hospital in the UK.
  • Experts claim she killed the babies via a series of different methods, including the injection of air into the bloodstream and poisoning them with insulin.
  • Letby was convicted of seven murders and six attempted murders and received a whole life order.

Netflix and ITN are working together to develop a true crime documentary about Lucy Letby, and they’re reaching out to various experts for their input. One of these experts is Richard Gill, who believes that Letby’s conviction was an egregious miscarriage of justice. As a retired math professor at Leiden University, Gill claims that the statistical evidence used in her trial was invalid. Letby was found guilty last summer and was recently given another conviction for attempted murder following a second trial at Manchester Crown Court. In total, she received 15 whole life sentences and will spend the remainder of her life behind bars.

Richard Gill voiced concerns over the way the staff rota, a crucial piece of evidence in the trial, was presented to the jury. This rota indicated that Letby was on duty during 25 instances of death or collapse between June 2015 and June 2016. However, Gill, along with other experts, argue that some data might have been misunderstood because it didn’t account for instances when Letby wasn’t working. Statistics professor, Peter Green, pointed out that the jury was not informed about six additional deaths that occurred during the same 12-month period. Moreover, he suggested that the chart did not accurately represent the fact that Letby had taken on numerous extra shifts.

A Nurse Called Lucia de Berk Was The Victim Of A Miscarriage of Justice And It Has Similarities To Lucy Letby’s Case

Netflix's Next Big True Crime Series Needs To Actually Solve This Case
  • Lucia de Berk was a pediatric nurse who was convicted of seven murders and three attempted murders of her patients in the Netherlands in 2004.
  • The prosecution’s case rested on statistical misrepresentation. In October 2008, the case was reopened by the Dutch Supreme Court, when new facts were uncovered that undermined the previous verdicts.
  • De Berk was freed, and faced a retrial, and she was exonerated in April 2010.

Based on recent news, it appears that the documentary is expected to spark significant debate. Given Netflix’s history, this isn’t unexpected. However, it’s crucial to approach the subject with sensitivity towards the families who have endured immense suffering. If there has been an injustice, they have a right to know the truth. It’s rumored that ITN secured exclusive access to Cheshire police and prosecutors for their upcoming collaboration with Netflix, so while the documentary may stir controversy, it will likely present both perspectives fairly and argue its point in a balanced manner.

The issues with Lucy Letby’s trial were raised in an insightful 13,000-word article in The New Yorker, which was banned in the UK in order to comply with a court order restricting press coverage of Letby’s ongoing trial. At the time of the article’s release, Letby was in the midst of a retrial for one attempted murder, but despite the case now being concluded, the article is still hard to get hold of in the UK. Upon issuing the order, The Crown Prosecution Service said:

As a gamer, I’d say: “I’ll keep my online chats clean and unbiased during this event to ensure fair play for all.

Conservative Member of Parliament, David Davis, expressed disapproval towards the restriction on the New Yorker article. In other words, he publicly voiced his dissatisfaction with the prohibition imposed on the publication of this particular article.

I’m sure that the court order was well intended, but it seems to me in defiance of open justice.

Davis has since taken on Lucy Letby’s case, and has raised the issue in parliament, and he is looking to get a criminal case review commission referral. In addition to this, Lucy Letby is set to challenge the last of her convictions at the Court of Appeal next month, after her original appeal for the 14 convictions was rejected in May 2024. A public inquiry into the events surrounding Letby’s ‘crimes’ is ongoing, despite the doubts raised about her conviction. Letby’s new lawyer, Mark McDonald, is also planning to make an application to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) in a last ditch attempt to get Letby’s conviction overturned.

The Lucy Letby Case Is Controversial But Netflix Has The Opportunity To Discover The Real Truth

Netflix's Next Big True Crime Series Needs To Actually Solve This Case

A group of 19 nurses have voiced concerns about the Letby case, sending a letter to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. In this letter, they express fear that if they work in the NHS, they might be unfairly blamed for patient deaths. They suggest there were problems with understaffing and an influx of premature babies in Letby’s unit during the spike in deaths. It is suspected that rather than addressing the issues within the NHS, higher-ups may have wrongfully accused an innocent nurse to hide their own mistakes. Despite the NHS being highly respected in the UK, it’s not exempt from corruption, and it would be worthwhile for Netflix to investigate this issue in their upcoming documentary.

During the trial, the key witness for the prosecution was Dr. Dewi Evans, a former pediatric consultant. He testified that an air embolism caused the deaths of some babies, a theory supported by a research paper written in 1989 by Dr. Shoo Lee on the ‘occurrence’ of air embolisms. In this paper, Dr. Lee described a specific pattern of bright pink blood vessels against a blue skin as an indication of an air embolism. However, at the Court of Appeal hearing for Letby, Dr. Lee, who was now testifying for the defense, stated that the pattern he had described did not match the one observed by witnesses in this case.

A person should not be found guilty based solely on assumptions. Additionally, the trial against Letby was heavily biased, with experts hesitant to testify in her defense due to concerns about potential damage to their careers from the contentious nature of the case.

Read More

2024-09-23 02:03