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Lucy Letby could 'meet tragic end' in prison as expert calls for her to be freed

As a crowd of supporters grow in favour of releasing the convicted baby-killer, an expert warns that prison may provide an early demise for former nurse Lucy Letby

[Lucy Letby holding a babygrow]

Supporters of Lucy Letby continue to right for her release, citing 'a miscarriage of justice'(Image: Chester Standard / SWNS)

Lucy Letby's alleged 'solitary confinement' may prove disastrous for her health, according to experts. The 35-year-old was convicted of the murders of seven babies and the attempted murder of seven others at the Countess of Chester Hospital, and currently resides in HM Prison Bronzefield.

Despite damning hand-written evidence including reported 'confessions' to the murders a burgeoning group of support is growing for Letby, calling for her release. They believe the Hereford-born woman is the victim of a gross miscarriage of justice, pointing to similar cases such as that of Lucia De Berk.

De Berk was similarly imprisoned for murdering patients, suffering a stroke during incarceration. However, after her case was exonerated in 2010, De Berk died suddenly from illness.

[countess of chester hospital]

Lucy Letby was a nurse at the Countess of Chester hospital (Image: PA)

"Deeply concerned" supporters believe the extreme similarities in the cases may also mean Letby may become ill whilst in prison.

Professor Richard Gill, a statistician that helped free de Berk, told The Sun he fears for her health. The probability theorist cautioned that Letby may die young, forewarning: "It may not be a long life."

He told The Sun: "I dont know how Lucy Letby is doing. She must have incredible strength of character to get through that.

"Im deeply concerned, this is such a big and terrible thingShe's in more or less, solitary confinement. I would hope shes talking to people."

[Lucy Letby]

Statistician Professor Richard Gill has warned that he is 'deeply concerned' for Lucy Letby's health(Image: PA)

Reports state that the convicted is 'almost entirely isolated' from other prisoners for her own safety. Letby is also allegedly escorted everywhere by wardens who fear she may be attacked by other prisoners for the 'cold-blooded' murders.

During her sentencing (which she failed to attend) the Judge said Letby committed "a cruel, calculated and cynical campaign of child murder involving the smallest and most vulnerable of children".

Letby's handwritten diary entries also appear to suggest that the nurse felt guilty for the acts she knowingly committed. One entry read: "I am evil I did this "I don't deserve to live. I killed them on purpose because I'm not good enough to care for them."

However some medical specialists claim that Letby's convictions were 'unsafe', instead citing bad medical care and natural causes as the reasons for the infants' deaths.

[Lucy Letby]

Lucy Letby supporters are calling for her release(Image: PA)

The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) are currently investigating the potential for miscarriage of justice in the case, which supporters hope will be referred back to the court of appeal.

In February a CCRC spokesperson said: We are aware that there has been a great deal of speculation and commentary surrounding Lucy Letbys case, much of it from parties with only a partial view of the evidence.

"We ask that everyone remembers the families affected by events at the Countess of Chester Hospital between June 2015 and June 2016."

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