Doubt cast on up to 40 cases of baby killing

The scale of questionable convictions of women jailed for killing their babies emerged today after a government review cast doubt on their sentences.

The Attorney General has written to 24 solicitors inviting them to refer clients' cases to the Criminal Cases Review Commission.

At least 14 further cases are being recommended for appeal after government lawyers found their convictions were based on conflicting expert medical evidence.

The government review means up to 40 women could have their convictions overturned. Almost 300 convict ions of murder and manslaughter of babies under two were examined.

The review, prompted by the Angela Cannings verdict, found the convictions of one in seven mothers was questionable. Lawyers believe many other women would have had grounds to appeal had the review had a wider remit.

Mrs Cannings was cleared in the Court of Appeal last December of killing her two sons because her conviction was founded on conflicting evidence from medical experts.