A shocking revelation has emerged in the high-profile case of Lucy Letby, a nurse convicted of murdering babies. The expert witness, Professor Peter Hindmarsh, who provided crucial evidence for the prosecution, was under investigation by the General Medical Council (GMC) during the trial, raising serious questions about his credibility.
But here's where it gets controversial...
On the very first day of Hindmarsh's testimony in late 2022, the GMC opened an investigation into concerns about his fitness to practice, including allegations of patient harm. Despite this, Hindmarsh continued to provide expert evidence for the prosecution, with the jury remaining unaware of the ongoing investigation.
The GMC's investigation was triggered by a formal inquiry led by Hindmarsh's main employer, University College London Hospitals Trust (UCLH), which later reported him to the GMC. Great Ormond Street hospital, where Hindmarsh also worked, had 'multiple and wide-ranging concerns' about his practice.
During the trial, a medical tribunal imposed severe restrictions on Hindmarsh's work, stating he 'may pose a real risk' to the public. The tribunal also considered that the allegations against him could impact his ability to act as an expert witness. However, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) opposed any attempt to inform the jury, arguing that the allegations were not yet adjudicated.
Ultimately, the GMC investigation was never concluded as Hindmarsh voluntarily removed himself from the GMC register, effectively ending the inquiry without any regulatory findings against him.
And this is the part most people miss...
Since Letby's conviction, leading medical and scientific experts have challenged the prosecution's medical case, including Hindmarsh's evidence. Dr. Shoo Lee, a renowned neonatologist, argues that the prosecution misrepresented his research, and an expert panel unanimously found that the babies' deaths were due to natural causes and poor care, with no evidence of murder or insulin poisoning.
Letby's lawyer, Mark McDonald, has applied to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) to have her case sent back to the Court of Appeal, supported by reports from 27 leading experts.
Hindmarsh appeared as a key witness during Letby's first trial, which lasted from October 2022 to August 2023, thought to be Britain's longest murder trial. He had extensive clinical experience and was a consultant paediatric endocrinologist, specializing in hormones.
On November 25, 2022, Hindmarsh gave evidence supporting the prosecution's case that two babies, F and L, had been poisoned with insulin injected into their feed bags. However, the jury was never informed of the allegations against Hindmarsh or the ongoing investigations, including the termination of his contract at Great Ormond Street four months earlier.
When contacted, Great Ormond Street declined to comment on the contract termination, and Hindmarsh's representative had no response.
The revelations about Hindmarsh's situation during the trial raise serious questions about the integrity of the evidence presented and the fairness of the process.
What do you think? Should the jury have been informed about the investigations into Hindmarsh? Could this have impacted the outcome of the trial? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
