Letby investigation ‘made just about every mistake in the book’ – as crucial rotas EXCLUDED from evidence

A LEADING statistician hired to calculate the odds of Letby being present at the baby deaths was ‘sacked’ when she refused. Cheshire Police contacted Professor Jane Hutton in April 2018 and asked her to calculate the likelihood of a single member of staff being on duty “during all the deaths/collapses” on the Countess of Chester Hospital neonatal unit. Cops asked Prof Hutton to assist them after Letby was arrested Credit: PA Prof Hutton warned detectives that a proper statistical investigation should not begin by focusing on one member of staff Credit: Dan Charity An officer asked whether the chances could be expressed as a figure such as “1 in a million”. But Prof Hutton, an expert in medical statistics, warned detectives that a proper statistical investigation should not begin by focusing on one member of staff. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Instead, she said researchers would need to examine all possible explanations for an apparent increase in deaths and collapses – including the babies’ medical conditions, prematurity and the performance of the neonatal unit itself. Police subsequently signed a consultancy agreement with Prof Hutton and agreed fees, according to emails. Detectives approached Prof Hutton again in 2021, after Letby had been charged Credit: AFP But the proposed statistical analysis was not commissioned at that stage. Detectives approached her again in 2021, after Letby had been charged, and arranged a video call. It was later cancelled following discussions with prosecutors. In an email, an officer wrote: “We have had a further meeting this afternoon where we have informed the prosecutors that we were looking at the validity of statistical evidence again in the case. Most read in The Sun “The prosecutor does not agree with our line of inquiry and has instructed us not to pursue this avenue, any further, at present.” She added: “The investigation made just about every mistake in the book. We know from an early version of the police shift chart I have that there were more places where suspicious events were identified and they’ve been excluded. “When they presented the chart that supposedly showed she was always there when babies died they needed to explain – it includes other deaths she was not there for. Also in The Sun’s documentary… A mum says she believes her boy died of a sewage-linked bug that came from the taps months after Letby was removed from the unit Evidence that could have helped Letby’s defence ‘wasn’t heard in court‘ An unseen bombshell email sent by a doctor who was the only Letby eyewitness CONTRADICTS his evidence to jury A top surgeon’s damning verdict undermines the prosecution star witness A whistleblower says Lucy Letby may have been ‘scapegoat’ to cover up failures at the unit Letby’s handwritten confessions should NOT be treated as guilt, expert says “It’s a bit like saying, how much more likely is Jane to win the lottery than John without mentioning that John never buys lottery tickets. “It’s that kind of level of error.” A spokesman for Cheshire police said: “Cheshire Constabulary will not be commenting further in relation to this case. “We strongly refute the allegations made and remain confident in the integrity of the investigation, the conduct of the prosecution, and the decisions reached by the courts. “Our thoughts remain with the families of the babies – who have always been at the heart of this case.” Lucy Letby: Scapegoat? is available to stream on 5 now Comment now