KILLER nurse Lucy Letby could be facing more charges over the deaths of babies at hospitals she worked in.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said 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”.
PAKiller nurse Lucy Letby could be facing more charges related to baby deaths at hospitals she worked in[/caption]
GettyThree people were arrested this week in connection with the investigation into baby deaths at the Countess of Chester Hospital[/caption]
PALetby is serving 15 whole-life orders for the murders of seven babies[/caption]
This comes after three people – who were in senior leadership roles at the Countess of Chester Hospital – were arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter as part of an investigation into the baby deaths.
In a statement, a spokesman for the CPS said: “We will now carefully consider the evidence to determine whether any further criminal charges should be brought.
“As always, we will make that decision independently, based on the evidence and in line with our legal test.”
Letby, 35, is serving 15 whole-life orders for murdering seven babies in a year-long reign of terror.
The nurse also tried to kill seven others – including one baby twice – at the Countess of Chester Hospital between June 2015 and June 2016.
Now, Letby could face even further charges in connection with the deaths of babies at both the Countess of Chester Hospital and Liverpool Women’s Hospital.
She is understood to have carried out two work placements at Liverpool Women’s Hospital – where she trained as a student – between October and December 2012, and January and February 2015.
A spokeswoman for Cheshire Police confirmed the force had submitted “a full file of evidence to the CPS for charging advice regarding the ongoing investigation”.
Investigators are looking into the deaths and non-fatal collapses of babies at the neo-natal units of both hospitals as part of Operation Hummingbird.
This process to determine whether Letby will face further charges is expected to take several weeks and involve consultation with many of Britain’s most senior legal brains.
The Daily Mail reports that senior government lawyers could be involved in the decision-making process.
Lucy Letby bombshell as new email from sole medical witness casts doubt on prosecution claim she was caught ‘red-handed’
A BOMBSHELL email has appeared to cast doubt on prosecution claims that Lucy Letby was caught “red-handed”.
Letby, 35, from Hereford, is serving 15 whole-life orders after she was convicted across two trials at Manchester Crown Court of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others.
Letby lost two attempts to challenge her convictions at the Court of Appeal last year.
Now, a new email – sent on May 4 2017 to colleagues at the Countess of Chester Hospital – appears to cast significant doubts over the chronology of events.
The memo, revealed yesterday, is a significant boost to Letby’s legal fight to overturn her convictions.
Dr Ravi Jayaram is the only hospital staff member to have claimed to see Letby act suspiciously and link her behaviour directly to babies’ deaths.
He testified that the nurse was seen standing over Baby K’s cot as the infant’s condition deteriorated.
Taking the stand, the doctor said Letby failed to call for help as the newborn’s condition declined, insisting the nurse had virtually been caught “red handed”.
But prior to the start of the police investigation, Dr Jayaram wrote in an email to colleagues: “At time of deterioration … Staff nurse Letby at incubator and called Dr Jayaram to inform of low saturations.”
The revelatory memo appears to contradict previous testimony, with the evidence not making it into documents handed to cops before the start of the investigation.
On top of the recent arrests for suspected gross negligence manslaughter, there is also an ongoing investigation into corporate manslaughter at the Countess of Chester Hospital.
All three ex-bosses arrested yesterday have been bailed, with their identities not yet being released by police.
Cops also added that these arrests do not have any impact on the killer nurse’s convicitions.
The corporate manslaughter investigation, which was launched in 2023, examines areas such as senior leadership and decision making to “determine whether any criminality has taken place”.
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
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 (CoCH).
“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.”
A spokeswoman for the Countess of Chester Hospital reiterated it “would not be appropriate” for the hospital to comment “due to the Thirlwall Inquiry and the ongoing police investigations”.
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.
Letby’s barrister Mark McDonald added that the police’s latest announcement came 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.”
Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
