A nurse accused of the murder of eight babies over the course of a year at a hospital neonatal unit has appeared in court today.
Lucy Letby appeared at Manchester Crown Court via videolink from HMP Peterborough this morning.
The 31-year-old, who wore a dark shirt, blue jeans and had shoulder-length dark hair, spoke only to confirm her name and that she could hear the proceedings.
Letby is alleged to have murdered five baby boys and three baby girls while working at the Countess of Chester Hospital.
She is also accused of the attempted murder of five baby boys and five baby girls, all between June 2015 and June 2016.
Letby, of Arran Avenue, Hereford, was arrested in 2018 and 2019 as part of the police investigation at the hospital, which began in 2017.
The 25-minute hearing on Monday dealt with administrative and case management matters ahead of a trial next year.
Mr Justice Dove adjourned proceedings for a week, to hold a further case management hearing at the same court on May 17.
The defendant remains in custody.
Letby last appeared in court on February 19 via a link at Chester Crown Court, where a potential trial date was fixed for January 11, 2022.
