Editorial 05.02.2025
Wednesday’s newspaper headlines pick up on claims of a possible miscarriage of justice in relation to the infamous Lucy Letby case. Letby is serving 15 whole-life orders for killing seven infants but a group of neonatal experts say they died from natural causes or “bad medical care.”
Politics makes the front pages as the prime minister promises to get tough immigration, and Donald Trump’s tariffs on China are met with a probe into US tech companies.
Princess Kate is pictured on many of the newspaper front pages as she joined a class on a school trip to the National Portrait Gallery.
Six Nations rugby leads the back pages as England prepare to face France.
Lucy Letby case in doubt
‘Babies died from bad medical care or natural causes,’ reports the Metro.
Metro says the 35-year-old former nurse is serving 15 whole-life orders for the murders of seven infants at the Countess of Chester Hospital. A group of neonatal experts say the infants died from natural causes or “bad medical care.”
‘Letby team planning new bid to clear her name,’ says the i.
The i newspaper says Letby’s legal team are planning a new bid to clear her name and her convictions will be reviewed before a decision is made on whether to send the case back to the Court of Appeal.
‘Experts claims a bombshell,’ says the Mirror.
The Mirror’s front page calls the experts’ claims a “bombshell” and asks whether Lucy Letby is a “baby killer … or victim?”.
‘Letby hopeful she’ll get out of prison,’ reports the Express.
The Daily Express also reports that the “evidence doesn’t support murder of any babies,” and says the former nurse has been given “hope” she’ll get out of prison.
‘Unprecedented intervention,’ is the Telegraph’s take on the panel of experts.
The Daily Telegraph describes the panel’s work as an “unprecedented intervention” with one member of the panel of experts having co-authored a paper used by the prosecution that convicted Letby.
Dr Shoo Lee said he had become involved in the case after finding out his research had been used as a key plank in the evidence but had been “wrongly interpreted.”
‘Mum of victim says bids to free Letby are disrespectful,’ highlights the Mail.
But the Daily Mail looks at the update from a different angle. The paper speaks to one of the mothers of Letby’s victims, who says the campaign to free her is “disrespectful”.
Nottingham killer NHS failings
‘Nottingham killer’s NHS care was a catalogue of failings,’ highlights The Times.
The Times reports on the case of Valdo Calocane, the man who murdered three people in Nottingham. An independent review into the paranoid schizophrenic’s NHS care before the attack “lays bare a catalogue of failings”, it says. The paper says the killer was described as “personable and gentle” and was allowed to skip medication because he did not like needles.
‘China to investigate US tech firms,’ reports the FT.
The FT says China is seeking “ammunition for Trump talks” by reviving probes into big US tech firms. Both countries, amid a trade war, have placed tariffs on each other and now China’s state regulator has reopened a competition investigation into Google and is also looking at Nvidia and potentially Intel.
‘Labour call on PM to get tougher on immigration,’ reports The Guardian.
The Guardian reports on calls from Labour MPs for the prime minister to get tougher on immigration. The paper says a pressure group has been set up by MPs who feel under threat from the growth of Reform.
‘Walker’s wife to join reality TV show,’ reports The Sun.
The Sun leads on showbiz news reporting that the wife of footballer Kyle Walker is set to join a reality TV show. Former Manchester City player Walker is now playing for AC Milan, departing the north of England club amidst tabloid coverage over his extra-marital affair.