Why it matters in the Letby case
The Letby convictions were returned by two juries (2023 trial, 2024 Child K retrial). Any CCRC referral must satisfy the Court that the verdicts remain safe in light of new material.
Legal explainer
Jury verdicts and appellate review
Appellate courts defer substantially to jury verdicts. The Court of Appeal does not re-weigh evidence; it asks whether the verdict is unsafe in light of the trial process and any fresh evidence.
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Prosecution position
Two juries returned guilty verdicts after hearing the evidence tested in open court, and appellate courts defer substantially to that.
Expert challenge / post-conviction reading
The post-conviction argument is not that the juries erred on what they heard, but that material now available was not before them.
What remains uncertain
Appellate deference to jury verdicts is real and substantial. A referral would have to satisfy the Court that the verdicts do not remain safe once the new material is taken into account — a higher practical hurdle than showing the material is interesting.
Common questions
How much weight does the Court of Appeal give a jury verdict?
Substantial. It does not re-weigh evidence; it asks whether the verdict is unsafe in light of the trial process and any fresh evidence.
Does two juries convicting make a difference?
The 2023 trial and the 2024 Child K retrial were separate juries on different counts. Each verdict stands on its own record.
Can new expert evidence displace a verdict?
It can, if the Court concludes the verdict is unsafe in light of it. That is the test, and it is not a low one.
Is this site predicting an outcome?
No. It sets out the process and the material, and takes no position on guilt.
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