Lucy Letby: Prosecutors consider further charges over alleged murder of more babies
Lucy Letby
have passed evidence to prosecutors alleging she murdered and harmed more babies.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) confirmed on Wednesday that it was considering further charges against Letby over alleged crimes at the Countess of Chester hospital and Liverpool Women's hospital.
It is understood that evidence relating to more than six cases has been passed to prosecutors by Cheshire constabulary.
It follows the arrest this week of three former Countess of Chester hospital bosses on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter.
READ MORE
Letby (35) is serving 15 whole-life prison terms after being convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others in the year to June 2016.
The former neonatal nurse is seeking to overturn her convictions at the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), having lost two legal challenges at the court of appeal.
Police have faced mounting questions about Letby's convictions after an international panel of experts announced in February that they had found no evidence of criminality against her after reviewing medical records and other documents.
However, Cheshire constabulary is continuing three criminal investigations into the former nurse, hospital bosses and into alleged corporate manslaughter by the Countess of Chester hospital NHS foundation trust.
The three former
hospital managers arrested on Monday
on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter have not been named and have declined to comment. They have all been released on police bail.
[
Lucy Letby case roils Britain's legal and medical establishments
Opens in new window
]
The CPS said on Wednesday it had 'received a full file of evidence from Cheshire constabulary asking us to consider further allegations in relation to deaths and non-fatal collapses of babies at the Countess of Chester hospital and Liverpool Women's hospital'.
A spokesperson said it would 'carefully consider the evidence to determine whether any further criminal charges should be brought', adding: 'As always, we will make that decision independently, based on the evidence and in line with our legal test.'
Any further charges against Letby are likely to be highly controversial given the concerns about her convictions.
A further prosecution against the former nurse would have to be approved by Stephen Parkinson, the director of public prosecutions.
As the criminal investigations continue, the CCRC is at the early stages of reviewing two large dossiers of expert medical evidence casting doubt on her convictions, which followed two trials at Manchester crown court.
Mark McDonald, Letby's new barrister, has described the new material as 'overwhelming evidence' that she should be released from prison, where she has been held since November 2020.
However, lawyers for the babies who died and were harmed in Letby's care have dismissed the expert evidence as 'old and full of analytical flaws'.
Peter Skelton KC, for the families of seven of the babies, told the Thirlwall inquiry in March that the doubts were based on 'fragile towers of speculation'.
Richard Baker KC, representing the families of 12 of the babies, said there was 'nothing remarkable or new' about the material passed to the CCRC, adding that the bereaved parents had become a 'sideshow within a ghoulish media circus'. – Guardian
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The Irish Sun
12 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
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 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 on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter as part of an investigation into the And now The nurse is already serving 15 whole-life orders for murdering . 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, 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 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 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 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 Between 2015 and 2016, two babies on the neo-natal unit were 'deliberately' poisoned with insulin, which was 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 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 '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, 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. 7 Letby was found to be the 'common denominator' when the number of baby deaths and catastrophic collapses at her hospital significantly rose Credit: Enterprise 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
Irish Times
16 hours ago
- Irish Times
Lucy Letby: Prosecutors consider further charges over alleged murder of more babies
UK detectives investigating the former nurse Lucy Letby have passed evidence to prosecutors alleging she murdered and harmed more babies. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) confirmed on Wednesday that it was considering further charges against Letby over alleged crimes at the Countess of Chester hospital and Liverpool Women's hospital. It is understood that evidence relating to more than six cases has been passed to prosecutors by Cheshire constabulary. It follows the arrest this week of three former Countess of Chester hospital bosses on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter. READ MORE Letby (35) is serving 15 whole-life prison terms after being convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others in the year to June 2016. The former neonatal nurse is seeking to overturn her convictions at the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), having lost two legal challenges at the court of appeal. Police have faced mounting questions about Letby's convictions after an international panel of experts announced in February that they had found no evidence of criminality against her after reviewing medical records and other documents. However, Cheshire constabulary is continuing three criminal investigations into the former nurse, hospital bosses and into alleged corporate manslaughter by the Countess of Chester hospital NHS foundation trust. The three former hospital managers arrested on Monday on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter have not been named and have declined to comment. They have all been released on police bail. [ Lucy Letby case roils Britain's legal and medical establishments Opens in new window ] The CPS said on Wednesday it had 'received a full file of evidence from Cheshire constabulary asking us to consider further allegations in relation to deaths and non-fatal collapses of babies at the Countess of Chester hospital and Liverpool Women's hospital'. A spokesperson said it would 'carefully consider the evidence to determine whether any further criminal charges should be brought', adding: 'As always, we will make that decision independently, based on the evidence and in line with our legal test.' Any further charges against Letby are likely to be highly controversial given the concerns about her convictions. A further prosecution against the former nurse would have to be approved by Stephen Parkinson, the director of public prosecutions. As the criminal investigations continue, the CCRC is at the early stages of reviewing two large dossiers of expert medical evidence casting doubt on her convictions, which followed two trials at Manchester crown court. Mark McDonald, Letby's new barrister, has described the new material as 'overwhelming evidence' that she should be released from prison, where she has been held since November 2020. However, lawyers for the babies who died and were harmed in Letby's care have dismissed the expert evidence as 'old and full of analytical flaws'. Peter Skelton KC, for the families of seven of the babies, told the Thirlwall inquiry in March that the doubts were based on 'fragile towers of speculation'. Richard Baker KC, representing the families of 12 of the babies, said there was 'nothing remarkable or new' about the material passed to the CCRC, adding that the bereaved parents had become a 'sideshow within a ghoulish media circus'. – Guardian
Irish Times
18 hours ago
- Irish Times
Man (28) charged with murder of Sarah Montgomery in Co Down
A man has appeared in court charged with the murder of pregnant mother-of-two Sarah Montgomery in Co Down . Zak Hughes (28) from Ardglen Place in north Belfast, is also charged with child destruction. Ms Montgomery (27) who was due to give birth next month and is the mother of two young girls, was found dead in her home at Elmfield Walk, Donaghadee, on Saturday. On Wednesday, Mr Hughes stood in the dock handcuffed at Newtownards Magistrates' Court and spoke only to confirm his name and that he understood the charges, which relate to June 27th. READ MORE A senior officer with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said he believed he could connect the accused to the charges. There was no bail application and district judge Conor Heaney adjourned the case until July 30th. A 42-year-old woman, who was arrested in Belfast on suspicion of assisting an offender, was released unconditionally on Tuesday.
