A British Nurse Was Found Guilty of Killing Seven Babies. Did She Do It?

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2024/05/20/lucy-letby-was-found-guilty-of-killing-seven-babies-did-she-do-it

by rphv • 2 years ago

8 1 2 years ago

hilbert42• 2 years ago

If this is a miscarriage of justice then it has to be one of worst cases ever.

I am not in the UK so I have not been privy to local news reports, thus my knowledge of this case comes only from this story in The New Yorker (which comes with biases, whatever they may be). Nevertheless, there are aspects† of this story that I find disturbing—uncertain statistics, differing medical opinions, uncertain medical diagnosis, Letby's demeanor and responses, and others. Also there have been too many cases in recent times where many have jumped to false conclusions without certain proof of guilt. Moreover, in such high profile cases modern news reporting often leads to sensational stories where any hint of bias can lead to a common group-think or belief that can be wrong.

Not only is terrible harm done to an innocent person found guilty of a crime they didn't commit—especially one of such magnitude—but also it harms and badly undermines the justice system. It's why I am one of those who unapologetically believes in the old saying 'that it's better to let a dozen guilty go free than to convict one innocent person'.

That this story has appeared as it has suggests others also have considerable misgivings about this case. In fairness to all and in the interests of justice one can only hope more definitive evidence comes to light that brings certainty one way or the other.

† I'm assuming basic facts of the case have been reported with reasonable accuracy, if not they'd be easily detected especially so when published by such a prestigious magazine.

A British Nurse Was Found Guilty of Killing Seven Babies. Did She Do It?

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