Gross negligence manslaughter arrests following Lucy Letby baby deaths
All three have since been bailed pending further inquiries, the force added.
Letby, 35, from Hereford, is serving 15 whole-life orders after she was convicted of murdering seven infants and attempting to murder seven others, with two attempts on one of her victims, between June 2015 and June 2016.
Police said corporate manslaughter and gross negligence manslaughter probes are continuing.
Following the arrests, senior investigating officer Detective Superintendent Paul Hughes said: 'In October 2023 following the lengthy trial and subsequent conviction of Lucy Letby, Cheshire Constabulary launched an investigation into corporate manslaughter at the Countess of Chester Hospital.
'This focuses on senior leadership and their decision-making to determine whether any criminality has taken place concerning the response to the increased levels of fatalities.
'In March 2025 the scope of the investigation widened to also include gross negligence manslaughter.
'This is a separate offence to corporate manslaughter and focuses on the grossly negligent action or inaction of individuals.
'It is important to note that this does not impact on the convictions of Lucy Letby for multiple offences of murder and attempted murder.
'As part of our ongoing inquiries, on Monday June 30 three individuals who were part of the senior leadership team at the CoCH in 2015-2016 were arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter.'
A spokeswoman for CoCH reiterated it 'would not be appropriate' for the hospital to comment 'due to the Thirlwall Inquiry and the ongoing police investigations'.
Letby's barrister Mark McDonald said the police's latest announcement has come at a 'very sensitive time' and that a proper and full public inquiry into failings by the hospital is needed.
He said: 'Yet another press release from the police at a very sensitive time when the CCRC (Criminal Cases Review Commission) are looking at the case of Lucy Letby.
'Despite this, the concerns many have raised will not go away, and we will continue to publicly discuss them.
'The reality is that 26 internationally renowned experts have looked at this case and the lead expert has concluded that no crime was committed, no babies were murdered.
'What is needed is a proper and full public inquiry into the failings of the neonatal and paediatric medical care unit at the Countess of Chester hospital.'
Police are continuing a review of deaths and non-fatal collapses of babies at the neonatal units of the Countess of Chester and Liverpool Women's Hospital during Letby's time as a nurse from 2012 to 2016.
Letby lost two bids last year to challenge her convictions at the Court of Appeal for the seven murders and seven attempted murders, and in October for the attempted murder of a baby girl, which she was convicted of by a different jury at a retrial.
Lady Justice Thirlwall is due to publish the findings from her public inquiry in early 2026.
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10 hours ago
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Police failed to tell Letby she could be facing further charges
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13 hours ago
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Advertisement 7 Lucy Letby is serving 15 whole-life orders for killing seven babies and attempting to murder seven others Credit: PA 7 The killer nurse has twice failed to appeal her convictions Credit: SWNS 7 Police have widened their investigation to look into gross negligence manslaughter for staff at the Countess of Chester Hospital Credit: Alamy Yesterday, Cheshire Constabulary confirmed that three people - who were in senior leadership roles at the Countess of Chester Hospital - had been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter as part of an investigation into the baby deaths and later bailed. And now Letby could face even further charges in connection with the deaths and collapses of babies at both the Countess of Chester Hospital and Liverpool Women's Hospital. Advertisement The nurse is already serving 15 whole-life orders for murdering seven babies in a year-long reign of terror. And she was also found guilty of trying to kill seven others - including one baby twice. But after the latest bombshell developments in the case, Professor Richard Gill, a statistical misrepresentation consultant, told The Sun: "I think this will blow up in the police's face." The professor has helped free multiple medical professionals wrongfully convicted of killing patients, including Dutch nurse Lucia de Berk and Italian nurse Daniela Poggiali. He has previously argued that he can also prove Letby's innocence. Advertisement Asked if he believes cops are diverting attention away from potential hospital failures or because there is a growing backlash against Letby's convictions, he said: "Both, I think." He added: "I think this is a move of desperation and a diversionary tactic by police. "They have been threatening this for a long time. So they have to do it to preserve face. They are doing it now in an attempt to regain control of the narrative." Lucy Letby cops arrest 3 senior members of leadership team at hospital where killer nurse murdered 7 babies Talking about how the arrests could help Letby's case, he says: "At least these persons will be able to afford top legal representation. "I think this will help Lucy a great deal. Those managers can pay top lawyers. They can fight back using the enormous doubts which now exist in the safety of Lucy's convictions." Advertisement The findings of the Thirlwall Inquiry - an examination into the events at the hospital at the time of the baby deaths for which Letby was convicted - are due in early 2026. Prof Gill said: "Police are interfering with the Thirlwall Inquiry. They should have waited until Thirlwall's report was ready." Asked if cops will be potentially worried about what the inquiry will reveal, he said: "No, just because the inquiry had the job of determining whether managers were to blame. "It's a legal issue. The police are interrupting a statutory inquiry. One branch of government disturbing what another is doing." Corporate manslaughter occurs when a company's gross negligence in managing or organising its activities leads to a person or persons' death. Advertisement What is the difference between corporate and gross negligence manslaughter? CORPORATE manslaughter is a criminal offence in England and Wales used to prosecute companies accused of causing a person or persons death. Corporate manslaughter is a relatively new offence under English law. The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act came into force across the UK in April 2008. Before this companies could be prosecuted for causing death under the offence of gross negligence manslaughter. But in order for the prosecution to be successful a senior individual in the company would also have to be accountable. The new act provided that the company itself could be found guilty of the offence. The Crown Prosecution Service says: "The offence was created to provide a means of accountability for very serious management failings across the organisation." Meanwhile, gross negligence manslaughter is a common law offence. It is committed where the death is a result of a grossly negligent (though otherwise lawful) act or omission on the part of the defendant, The Crown Prosecution says. The circumstances in which this offence may fall to be considered often involve death following medical treatment or care or death in custody. The ex-bosses have not been named by police, and cops were clear to say that this does not impact any of the killer nurse's convictions. Cheshire Police say their investigations into corporate and gross negligence manslaughter at the hospitals where the killer nurse worked continue. The probe, launched in 2023, is examining areas such as senior leadership and decision making to "determine whether any criminality has taken place". When police first announced hospital staff could face prosecution in March, Prof Gill had said he was convinced the deaths occurred due to changes introduced, which meant greater numbers of "doomed" patients were admitted to the ward where Letby worked. Prof Gill said: 'NHS statistics show that the increase in mortality can be fully explained by changes in admissions policy." Advertisement Earlier this year, an international panel of neonatologists and paediatric specialists said Letby's convictions were "unsafe" and told reporters bad medical care and natural causes were the reasons for the collapses and deaths. Their evidence has been passed to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), which investigates potential miscarriages of justice, and Letby's legal team hopes her case will be referred back to the Court of Appeal. 7 Prof Richard Gill is convinced Letby is innocent 7 A court sketch of Letby during her trial at Manchester Crown Court last year Credit: PA 7 A grab from footage of the serial baby killer's arrest Credit: PA Advertisement Between 2015 and 2016, two babies on the neo-natal unit were 'deliberately' poisoned with insulin, which was 'no accident'. Some of the other babies were killed or harmed when air or milk was injected into their bloodstream or via a tube in their stomachs. Letby, from Herefordshire, became a prime suspect when the number of baby deaths and catastrophic collapses at the hospital significantly rose. Consultants grew concerned when they realised the children who died had 'deteriorated unexpectedly'. Letby was found to be the "common denominator' among the deaths and collapses. Advertisement Detective Superintendent Paul Hughes, Senior Investigating Officer for Operation Duet, said today: 'In October 2023, following the lengthy trial and subsequent conviction of Lucy Letby, Cheshire Constabulary launched an investigation into corporate manslaughter at the Countess of Chester Hospital. 'This focuses on senior leadership and their decision making to determine whether any criminality has taken place concerning the response to the increased levels of fatalities. 'In March 2025, the scope of the investigation widened to also include gross negligence manslaughter. 'This is a separate offence to corporate manslaughter and focuses on the grossly negligent action or inaction of individuals. 'It is important to note that this does not impact on the convictions of Lucy Letby for multiple offences of murder and attempted murder. 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The Sun
13 hours ago
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Why I'm certain new arrests in Lucy Letby case will finally prove her innocence and blow up in cops' face, claims expert
AS KILLER nurse Lucy Letby faces more charges over the deaths of babies at the hospitals where she worked, and more arrests are made, the case that shocked a nation continues to unravel. But an expert who believes Letby, 35, is being used as a scapegoat for possible hospital failings told The Sun that the new developments could help to prove her innocence. 7 7 7 Yesterday, Cheshire Constabulary confirmed that three people - who were in senior leadership roles at the Countess of Chester Hospital - had been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter as part of an investigation into the baby deaths and later bailed. And now Letby could face even further charges in connection with the deaths and collapses of babies at both the Countess of Chester Hospital and Liverpool Women's Hospital. The nurse is already serving 15 whole-life orders for murdering seven babies in a year-long reign of terror. And she was also found guilty of trying to kill seven others - including one baby twice. But after the latest bombshell developments in the case, Professor Richard Gill, a statistical misrepresentation consultant, told The Sun: "I think this will blow up in the police's face." The professor has helped free multiple medical professionals wrongfully convicted of killing patients, including Dutch nurse Lucia de Berk and Italian nurse Daniela Poggiali. He has previously argued that he can also prove Letby's innocence. Asked if he believes cops are diverting attention away from potential hospital failures or because there is a growing backlash against Letby's convictions, he said: "Both, I think." He added: "I think this is a move of desperation and a diversionary tactic by police. "They have been threatening this for a long time. So they have to do it to preserve face. They are doing it now in an attempt to regain control of the narrative." Lucy Letby cops arrest 3 senior members of leadership team at hospital where killer nurse murdered 7 babies Talking about how the arrests could help Letby's case, he says: "At least these persons will be able to afford top legal representation. "I think this will help Lucy a great deal. Those managers can pay top lawyers. They can fight back using the enormous doubts which now exist in the safety of Lucy's convictions." The findings of the Thirlwall Inquiry - an examination into the events at the hospital at the time of the baby deaths for which Letby was convicted - are due in early 2026. Prof Gill said: "Police are interfering with the Thirlwall Inquiry. They should have waited until Thirlwall's report was ready." Asked if cops will be potentially worried about what the inquiry will reveal, he said: "No, just because the inquiry had the job of determining whether managers were to blame. "It's a legal issue. The police are interrupting a statutory inquiry. One branch of government disturbing what another is doing." Corporate manslaughter occurs when a company's gross negligence in managing or organising its activities leads to a person or persons' death. What is the difference between corporate and gross negligence manslaughter? CORPORATE manslaughter is a criminal offence in England and Wales used to prosecute companies accused of causing a person or persons death. Corporate manslaughter is a relatively new offence under English law. The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act came into force across the UK in April 2008. Before this companies could be prosecuted for causing death under the offence of gross negligence manslaughter. But in order for the prosecution to be successful a senior individual in the company would also have to be accountable. The new act provided that the company itself could be found guilty of the offence. The Crown Prosecution Service says: "The offence was created to provide a means of accountability for very serious management failings across the organisation." Meanwhile, gross negligence manslaughter is a common law offence. It is committed where the death is a result of a grossly negligent (though otherwise lawful) act or omission on the part of the defendant, The Crown Prosecution says. The circumstances in which this offence may fall to be considered often involve death following medical treatment or care or death in custody. The ex-bosses have not been named by police, and cops were clear to say that this does not impact any of the killer nurse's convictions. Cheshire Police say their investigations into corporate and gross negligence manslaughter at the hospitals where the killer nurse worked continue. The probe, launched in 2023, is examining areas such as senior leadership and decision making to "determine whether any criminality has taken place". When police first announced hospital staff could face prosecution in March, Prof Gill had said he was convinced the deaths occurred due to changes introduced, which meant greater numbers of "doomed" patients were admitted to the ward where Letby worked. Prof Gill said: 'NHS statistics show that the increase in mortality can be fully explained by changes in admissions policy." Earlier this year, an international panel of neonatologists and paediatric specialists said Letby's convictions were "unsafe" and told reporters bad medical care and natural causes were the reasons for the collapses and deaths. Their evidence has been passed to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), which investigates potential miscarriages of justice, and Letby's legal team hopes her case will be referred back to the Court of Appeal. 7 7 7 Between 2015 and 2016, two babies on the neo-natal unit were 'deliberately' poisoned with insulin, which was 'no accident'. Some of the other babies were killed or harmed when air or milk was injected into their bloodstream or via a tube in their stomachs. Letby, from Herefordshire, became a prime suspect when the number of baby deaths and catastrophic collapses at the hospital significantly rose. Consultants grew concerned when they realised the children who died had 'deteriorated unexpectedly'. Letby was found to be the "common denominator' among the deaths and collapses. Detective Superintendent Paul Hughes, Senior Investigating Officer for Operation Duet, said today: 'In October 2023, following the lengthy trial and subsequent conviction of Lucy Letby, Cheshire Constabulary launched an investigation into corporate manslaughter at the Countess of Chester Hospital. 'This focuses on senior leadership and their decision making to determine whether any criminality has taken place concerning the response to the increased levels of fatalities. 'In March 2025, the scope of the investigation widened to also include gross negligence manslaughter. 'This is a separate offence to corporate manslaughter and focuses on the grossly negligent action or inaction of individuals. 'It is important to note that this does not impact on the convictions of Lucy Letby for multiple offences of murder and attempted murder. 'As part of our ongoing enquiries, on Monday 30th June three individuals who were part of the senior leadership team at the CoCH in 2015-2016, were arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter. 'All three have subsequently been bailed pending further enquiries. 'Both the corporate manslaughter and gross negligence manslaughter elements of the investigation are continuing and there are no set timescales for these. 'Our investigation into the deaths and non-fatal collapses of babies at the neo-natal units of both the Countess of Chester Hospital and the Liverpool Women's Hospital between the period of 2012 to 2016 is also ongoing.' The killer nurse has lost two appeals against her convictions so far. Last year, The Sun reported that the nurse was allowed to spend £901,817.45 on barristers and £818,497.92 on solicitors. In March, Letby called for the public inquiry into events surrounding her crimes to be suspended. Her solicitors wrote to inquiry chairwoman Lady Justice Thirlwall insisting her final report would be "likely unreliable" unless it was paused pending the outcome of the killer nurse's battle to prove her innocence. With an estimated £10million spent so far on the inquiry, the letter added it would be in the taxpayer's interest to wait for the outcome of the CCRC review before publishing the report. But the judge refused to pause the inquiry, though the report has been delayed from November to early next year. Cheshire Police declined to comment. The charges Letby has been convicted of in full Child A, allegation of murder. The Crown said Letby injected air intravenously into the bloodstream of the baby boy. COUNT 1 GUILTY. Child B, allegation of attempted murder. The Crown said Letby attempted to murder the baby girl, the twin sister of Child A, by injecting air into her bloodstream. COUNT 2 GUILTY. Child C, allegation of murder. Prosecutors said Letby forced air down a feeding tube and into the stomach of the baby boy. COUNT 3 GUILTY. Child D, allegation of murder. The Crown said air was injected intravenously into the baby girl. COUNT 4 GUILTY. Child E, allegation of murder. The Crown said Letby murdered the twin baby boy with an injection of air into the bloodstream and also deliberately caused bleeding to the infant. COUNT 5 GUILTY. Child F, allegation of attempted murder. Letby was said by prosecutors to have poisoned the twin brother of Child E with insulin. COUNT 6 GUILTY. Child I, allegation of murder. The prosecution said Letby killed the baby girl at the fourth attempt and had given her air and overfed her with milk. COUNT 12 GUILTY. Child K, allegation of attempted murder. The prosecution said Letby compromised the baby girl as she deliberately dislodged a breathing tube. COUNT 14 JURY COULD NOT REACH VERDICT AT ORIGINAL TRIAL, NOW GUILTY AFTER RETRIAL Child L, allegation of attempted murder. The Crown said the nurse poisoned the twin baby boy with insulin. COUNT 15 GUILTY. Child M, allegation of attempted murder. Prosecutors said Letby injected air into the bloodstream of Child L's twin brother. COUNT 16 GUILTY. Child N, three allegations of attempted murder. The Crown said Letby inflicted trauma in the baby boy's throat and also injected him with air in the bloodstream. COUNT 17 GUILTY, COUNT 18 JURY COULD NOT REACH VERDICT, COUNT 19 JURY COULD NOT REACH VERDICT. Child O, allegation of murder. Prosecutors say Letby attacked the triplet boy by injecting him with air, overfeeding him with milk and inflicting trauma to his liver with "severe force". COUNT 20 GUILTY. Child P, allegation of murder. Prosecutors said the nurse targeted the triplet brother of Child O by overfeeding him with milk, injecting air and dislodging his breathing tube. COUNT 21 GUILTY. Child Q, allegation of attempted murder. The Crown said Letby injected the baby boy with liquid, and possibly air, down his feeding tube. COUNT 22 JURY COULD NOT REACH VERDICT
