Inquests into the deaths of five babies murdered by former nurse Lucy Letby are scheduled to open today at Cheshire Coroner's Court. The proceedings will focus on infants identified as Baby C, Baby E, Baby I, Baby O, and Baby P, all of whom died at the Countess of Chester Hospital between 2015 and 2016 while Letby was employed in the neonatal unit.
Coroner to Open and Suspend Hearings
Senior Coroner for Cheshire, Jacqueline Devonish, is expected to formally open the inquests before adjourning and suspending them until later this year. Full hearings, if they proceed, have been provisionally scheduled for September. This timeline is contingent on the publication of the Thirlwall Inquiry report, which is investigating how Letby was able to carry out her crimes and is due to be released after Easter.
Background on Lucy Letby's Convictions
Lucy Letby, now 36 years old, was sentenced to 15 whole-life terms in 2023 for murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others between June 2015 and June 2016. Her crimes have been described as one of the most shocking cases in recent British legal history, involving vulnerable infants under her care.
Previous inquests into other babies linked to the case have seen mixed outcomes. An inquest into the death of Baby A in October 2016 concluded that the cause could not be determined, while an inquest for Baby D was opened in January 2016 but suspended once criminal proceedings began.
No Further Criminal Charges
Last month, the Crown Prosecution Service announced that Letby will not face additional criminal charges related to further allegations involving infant deaths and non-fatal collapses. Cheshire Constabulary had submitted evidence concerning alleged offences of murder and attempted murder of two infants who died and seven who survived, but prosecutors stated this evidence did not meet the required evidential threshold.
Legal Challenges and Campaigns
Despite her convictions, Lucy Letby has maintained her innocence. Last year, she lost two bids to challenge her convictions at the Court of Appeal. Meanwhile, a group of campaigners continues to support her, having submitted reports to the Criminal Cases Review Commission in an effort to overturn the verdicts.
The opening of these inquests marks a significant step in the ongoing legal and investigative processes surrounding this tragic case, as authorities seek to provide closure for the affected families and ensure thorough scrutiny of the events at the Countess of Chester Hospital.
