Dr. John Gibbs, a prominent physician involved in the conviction of nurse Lucy Letby for the murder of infants, is planning to transition into a role as a priest within the Church of England following his retirement from the NHS. This decision has sparked criticism from Letby’s supporters, who have raised doubts about the evidence provided by Dr. Gibbs that contributed to Letby’s guilty verdicts.
Dr. Gibbs was among the first senior consultants to express concerns about Letby’s actions and advocated for her removal from the Countess of Chester hospital. He testified during her trial and expressed regret during a public inquiry for not preventing the neonatal nurse’s misconduct.
Despite initial suspicions, a review by international experts suggested that there was no intentional harm done to the babies. It has been revealed that Dr. Gibbs pursued theological studies after retiring from his medical career.
Statistician Professor Richard Gill, a supporter of Letby seeking her release, expressed disbelief at Dr. Gibbs’ career shift, questioning his motivations and social status. He implied that hospital consultants tend to protect one another, potentially hindering the full disclosure of information.
Dr. Gibbs has been actively involved in his local evangelical church in Chester, as evidenced by a parish newsletter and an online sermon on medical ethics. Meanwhile, Letby’s lawyer Mark McDonald continues to present new evidence to challenge her convictions, with the support of a group of experts who concluded that the babies were not intentionally harmed.
Despite the defense’s efforts, families of Letby’s victims criticized the expert panel’s findings, labeling them as flawed and echoing arguments made during the trial proceedings. Letby, now 35 years old, is serving a life sentence for the murder of seven infants and attempted murder of seven others.
Dr. Gibbs was contacted for a response but has not provided a statement at this time.
