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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Kim Pilling

Killer nurse Lucy Letby avoids further charges over six more babies

Serial killer nurse Lucy Letby, 36, will not face further charges over alleged harm to six more babies (Cheshire Constabulary/PA) - (Cheshire Constabulary)

Serial killer nurse Lucy Letby will not face further charges over causing alleged harm to six more babies.

Back in January, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) ruled no new criminal charges would be brought against Letby over potential offences of attempted murder and murder involving nine children, including two who died, as the “evidential test was not met”.

Cheshire Constabulary had passed a file of evidence to the CPS asking to consider the allegations made against Letby following a review of deaths and non-fatal collapses of babies during her time at the Countess of Chester Hospital, and also Liverpool Women’s Hospital where she trained, from 2012 to 2016.

Six families requested a review of the CPS’s rulings involving their child as part of the Victims’ Right to Review scheme.

An “extensive” review by an independent prosecutor followed which upheld the decision not to bring further charges, the CPS confirmed.

Malcolm McHaffie, head of the CPS’s special crime division stated: “In January 2026, after reviewing a file of evidence from Cheshire Constabulary, we decided that no further criminal charges should be brought against Lucy Letby, 36, relating to deaths and non-fatal collapses of babies at the Countess of Chester Hospital and Liverpool Women’s Hospital.

Court artist drawing of Lucy Letby giving evidence during her trial at Manchester Crown Court (Elizabeth Cook/PA) (PA)
Court artist drawing of Lucy Letby giving evidence during her trial at Manchester Crown Court (Elizabeth Cook/PA) (PA)

“The Crown Prosecution Service subsequently received requests in relation to six infants for the decisions to be reviewed under the Victims’ Right to Review (VRR) scheme.

“An extensive review of the case by a prosecutor independent of the original decisions, involving a re-examination of substantial evidence and material, has now been completed.

“Six offences of attempted murder were reconsidered in relation to six babies, but the review upheld the original decision not to bring any further criminal charges.

“The Crown Prosecution Service has written to the families involved and will offer meetings to answer any further questions. Our thoughts remain with them.”

Letby, 36, from Hereford, is currently serving 15 whole life terms for the murders of seven babies and attempting to kill seven more at the Countess of Chester Hospital’s neonatal unit between June 2015 and June 2016.

She was twice denied permission to appeal against her convictions in 2024.

The Criminal Cases Review Commission, which investigates potential miscarriages of justice, is considering evidence presented on her behalf by an international panel of medics who claim poor medical care and natural causes were the reasons for the babies collapsing.

A public inquiry, led by Lady Justice Thirlwall, into how the neonatal nurse was able to commit her crimes is due to publish its findings later this year, on a date yet to be announced.

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