Killer nurse Lucy Letby will appeal her convictions for murdering seven babies and trying to kill another six

Serial killer nurse Lucy Letby today launched an appeal against her convictions.

The 33-year-old – who was last month sentenced to life in prison for the murder of seven babies and the attempted murder of six others – is expected to launch her bid to clear her name at a court hearing later this month.

But a full review of his appeal is unlikely to take place for several months.

Letby, originally from Hereford, was convicted of attacking babies in the neonatal unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital in 2015 and 2016.

She denied all offenses and refused to attend her sentencing at Manchester Crown Court.

Letby’s candidacy comes after a scientist launched a fundraising campaign claiming the case against her was based on “unreliable expert advice” and a “poor understanding” of science.

California-based Sarrita Adams, who describes herself as a scientific consultant to biotech start-ups, leads a group called Science on Trial. The group says Letby’s conviction “could represent the biggest miscarriage of justice the UK has witnessed”.

Letby went on a year-long killing spree at the Countess of Chester Hospital

She was cleared of two counts of attempted murder.

However, the jury was unable to reach a verdict on six counts of attempted murder involving five children.

The Crown Prosecution Service will announce whether it is seeking a retrial on these charges at a hearing scheduled to take place in Manchester on September 25.

Letby is now expected to use this hearing to formally launch an appeal against his convictions.

Letby is seeking to appeal all crimes for which she was convicted, the court confirmed.

Anyone convicted of a crime has 28 days to apply for permission to appeal – the 28-day deadline from the latest verdicts in Letby’s trial would have expired today.

A judge will now review Letby’s request and decide whether to grant permission to appeal.

If permission was granted, the appeal would be heard by three senior judges.

If his request for leave to appeal is rejected, Letby can still renew his request before a panel of two or three judges.

For an appeal to be heard, it is necessary to demonstrate that there are grounds to support that the conviction is dangerous.

If the judges agree, they can overturn the conviction and order a new trial.

Last month, Letby’s “best friend” Janet Cox, who worked alongside her in the neonatal unit, told the Mail she still believed the nurse was innocent.

Artist’s impression of a relative of one of Letby’s victims reading a victim impact statement as Judge Goss looks on.

Letby’s parents, Susan, 63, and John, 77, were present every day at his trial but were not present during the sentencing.

The judicial ministry said it had received a request from its legal team.

“I can confirm that an application for leave to appeal the conviction has been received in the case of Lucy Letby,” a spokesperson said.

Letby’s attorney, Richard Thomas, declined to comment today.

The Health Ministry previously said an independent investigation would be conducted into Letby’s case. It will examine “the circumstances surrounding the deaths and incidents, including how concerns raised by clinicians were addressed”.

The Office of Criminal Appeals said it could not provide any information on the grounds of the appeal. No court hearings have yet been officially listed, the judicial ministry said.

Last week it was announced that one of the country’s most senior judges, Lady Justice Thirlwall, would lead the investigation into Letby’s crimes.

Health Secretary Steve Barclay told MPs that Judge Thirlwall, who currently sits on the Court of Appeal, was a judge and barrister “with many years of experience”.

The inquiry will have the legal power to compel witnesses, including current and former members of staff at the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, to provide evidence.

Letby became only the fourth woman in UK history to be sentenced to life.

Life sentences are the harshest punishment available in the country’s criminal justice system and are reserved for those who commit the most heinous crimes.

As the most prolific child serial killer in modern British history, the 33-year-old was convicted after prosecutor Nicholas Johnson KC told the court his offending was a “very, very clear case » for a life sentence. .

The nurse joins a string of the country’s most dangerous offenders who face dying behind bars, including Sarah Everard’s killer Wayne Couzens, necrophiliac David Fuller and homegrown terrorist Ali Harbi Ali who murdered MP Sir David A mess.

A total of 70 criminals are serving life sentences, four of whom are being held in secure hospitals. Their release will never be considered, unless exceptional humanitarian reasons justify it.

Only three other women have faced such punishment: the girlfriend of Moorish murderer Ian Brady, Myra Hindley – who died in 2002 – and serial killers Rose West and Joanna Dennehy.