A coroner has formally opened inquests into the deaths of five newborn babies who were murdered by former neonatal nurse Lucy Letby, with proceedings scheduled to begin in September. The hearing took place at Cheshire coroner's court, where senior coroner Jacqueline Devonish heard brief details before adjourning the cases.
Details of the Inquest Proceedings
During a concise twenty-minute hearing, Det Insp Darren Reid from the coroner's office stated that inquests were requested for the infants identified as C, E, I, O, and P. This request was made due to a "reason to suspect an unnatural death" at the Countess of Chester hospital, where the tragic events occurred. The coroner emphasised that the inquests are bound by the existing murder convictions and cannot contradict them under the Coroners and Justice Act 2009.
Legal Context and Constraints
Lucy Letby, aged 36, is currently serving fifteen whole-life prison terms after being convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others between 2015 and 2016. She has maintained her innocence, attributing the deaths to poor care and understaffing at the hospital. However, her barrister, Mark McDonald, acknowledged at a recent hearing in Warrington that the inquests are "not the forum to re-litigate the convictions."
Instead, McDonald highlighted the importance of understanding the specific circumstances of each baby's death and addressing potential "systemic failings" within the hospital. Richard Baker KC, representing several bereaved families, reinforced that the inquests must not serve as a "collateral attack on the convictions," stressing that the coroner is legally obligated to act consistently with the criminal verdicts.
Timeline and Related Investigations
The coroner has adjourned the five inquests until September, pending the outcome of a public inquiry led by Lady Justice Kathryn Thirlwall. This inquiry has examined the deaths and is expected to publish its report in the coming months. Provisional dates for the full inquest hearings are set from 14 to 25 September, with an internal review scheduled for 5 May.
In related developments, an inquest into the death of a sixth baby, Child D, which was initially opened and suspended in 2016, has been further suspended. Additionally, an inquest for Baby A was held in October 2016, resulting in a narrative conclusion that could not determine the cause of death. The family of Baby A has expressed no desire to reopen this case.
Ongoing Legal and Investigative Actions
The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) has been investigating potential miscarriages of justice in Letby's convictions since February of last year. Despite two unsuccessful attempts to overturn the convictions at the Court of Appeal in London, Letby will face no new charges. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) recently concluded that evidence for eleven new offences, including two alleged murders and nine attempted murders, did not meet the threshold for prosecution.
Meanwhile, Cheshire Constabulary continues its investigation into three former senior managers at the Countess of Chester hospital. These individuals were arrested last year on suspicion of corporate manslaughter or gross negligence manslaughter, adding another layer to the complex legal landscape surrounding this case.
