Letby Trial Doctor Expresses Surprise at CPS Decision
Dr Sandie Bohin, the consultant neonatologist who provided crucial expert testimony during the trial of former neonatal nurse Lucy Letby, has stated she was 'surprised' that prosecutors decided not to pursue additional charges against Letby. Dr Bohin stands firmly by her courtroom evidence, which played a pivotal role in securing Letby's conviction for the murders and attempted murders of 14 infants under her care at the Countess of Chester Hospital.
Reports on Nine Additional Cases
Beyond the trial evidence, Dr Bohin authored detailed reports concerning nine other babies. These reports were subsequently submitted by Cheshire Police to the Crown Prosecution Service, alleging that Letby was responsible for murdering two of these infants and attempting to murder seven others. However, in a decision announced in January, prosecutors declared they would not be bringing any further charges against the 36-year-old Letby.
The CPS cited insufficient evidence to meet their charging threshold and a lack of realistic prospect for conviction by a jury. This decision prompted a notable, albeit respectful, disagreement from Cheshire Police, who expressed disappointment with the outcome.
'I was surprised by the CPS decision,' Dr Bohin remarked. 'And I can see that the police might be disappointed in that outcome. I did my reports, and it's up to other people to then decide if it reaches the evidential threshold, but I think that certainly some of them did.'
Personal Fallout and Campaign of 'Hatred'
Lucy Letby is currently serving a record 15 whole life sentences after being convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven more—one of whom she attacked twice—during her tenure at the Countess of Chester Hospital between June 2015 and June 2016.
The aftermath of the trial has extended far beyond the courtroom for Dr Bohin. In a comprehensive interview, she revealed she has been forced into early retirement from her position as a paediatrician in Guernsey and is leaving the island after 17 years due to what she describes as a sustained campaign of 'hatred' and 'misinformation' directed against her.
'If you decide to work as an expert witness, you do expect scrutiny, you expect questioning, but I think none of us expected the level of hatred that has come out,' Dr Bohin stated. 'On a personal level, it's dreadful when your reputation and credibility is torn apart by people that don't know you and don't know all the facts of the case. It has made me ill.'
Political Feud and Unfounded Allegations
The controversy surrounding Dr Bohin in Guernsey stems from 2022, when politician Gavin St Pier used parliamentary privilege to name her in a speech regarding child safeguarding concerns on the island. This triggered an inquiry into Dr Bohin's conduct, which ultimately cleared her of any wrongdoing, with no formal complaints about her clinical care being upheld.
Conversely, an official standards investigation found that Mr St Pier had bullied Dr Bohin and discredited her with misleading statements, breaching the Guernsey parliament's code of conduct. Despite this finding, the dispute has continued, with Mr St Pier claiming contact from 28 families expressing concerns about Dr Bohin's practice—concerns which have been highlighted to Letby's new defence barrister, Mark McDonald.
Dr Bohin addressed these allegations directly: 'In the last year or so, there have been allegations that 28 families have complained about me. Headlines in the national press of 28 complaints against me are wrong but it's out there, and once it's out there, it's very difficult. Where there have been formal complaints they've been investigated by a proper process and no errors have been found in my clinical care.'
Legal Developments and Ongoing Scrutiny
In a related development, Dr Bohin, supported by her employer and the British Medical Association, filed a complaint with police regarding Mr St Pier and his wife, Jane. The couple were arrested in December for alleged harassment, with their electronic devices seized. They were released without charge but remain under investigation, denying any wrongdoing.
Meanwhile, Mark McDonald, Letby's defence barrister, has submitted information about Dr Bohin to the Criminal Cases Review Commission, which is evaluating Letby's case for potential miscarriage of justice. This is part of a broader defence strategy involving new medical experts who dispute the prosecution's case, arguing the babies died of natural causes or due to inadequate hospital care.
Dr Bohin expressed disagreement with these new expert conclusions, describing them as 'ill-informed'. When asked if she regretted her involvement in the Letby case given the severe personal consequences, she responded: 'I did my best in court. I told the truth. I didn't make the decision at the end of the day, the jury did. Somebody had to be an expert witness, and I was one of those people. I don't regret that, despite everything that's happened.'
The case continues to attract significant attention, with Dr Bohin's full interview available on the Daily Mail's award-winning Trial+ podcast via The Crime Desk.
