Inquests into Lucy Letby's Baby Victims Scheduled for February 2026 Opening
Formal inquests into the tragic deaths of babies murdered by child serial killer Lucy Letby are set to commence within the next fortnight, marking a significant development in this harrowing case. The 36-year-old former neonatal nurse is currently serving an unprecedented 15 whole life terms following her conviction for the murder of seven infants and the attempted murder of seven others at the Countess of Chester Hospital.
Coroner's Court Confirms February Opening Date
Cheshire Coroner's Court has officially announced that the inquests touching upon the deaths of Letby's victims will be opened on 4th February 2026 at 10:30am. This date comes more than a decade after some of the infants tragically lost their lives between June 2015 and June 2016. The court statement specifically noted these proceedings are "linked to criminal proceedings resulting in the conviction of Lucy Letby."
While the exact number of inquests has not been publicly disclosed, the coroner's court confirmed they will examine "a number of baby deaths occurring at the Countess of Chester Hospital in 2015/2016." Notably, one victim - a very premature baby girl known as Baby K - represents a particularly complex case. Letby was originally charged with Baby K's murder, but prosecutors later downgraded this to attempted murder, for which she was ultimately convicted.
CPS Rules Out Further Criminal Charges
This development follows the Crown Prosecution Service's confirmation that Letby will not face any new criminal charges regarding allegations of murder and attempted murder involving nine children at both the Countess of Chester Hospital and Liverpool Women's Hospital. Frank Ferguson, head of the CPS's Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, explained their decision-making process.
"Following a thorough review of that evidence, we have decided that no criminal charges should be brought in respect of those further allegations," Ferguson stated. "We concluded that the evidential test was not met in any of those cases. This decision was made independently, based on the evidence and in line with our legal test."
The CPS has committed to meeting with affected families to explain their decision in greater detail, acknowledging the ongoing impact on those involved.
Police Express Disappointment with CPS Decision
Cheshire Police have responded with evident disappointment to the CPS ruling, stating this was "not the outcome we had anticipated." Their strongly worded response indicated they believed they had submitted sufficient evidence to meet charging standards.
"We were confident that we held enough evidence to take to the CPS," the police statement read. "We believed the evidence submitted met the CPS charging standard. The CPS did not agree and despite our representations we must respect the decision that has been made."
Protective Measures for Families and Ongoing Legal Developments
The coroner's court has implemented strict protective measures for the upcoming proceedings. None of the babies can be named for legal reasons, and reporting restrictions will remain in place throughout the hearings to safeguard the identities of the infants and their grieving families.
"Given the existing lifetime injunctions, the pre-inquest review hearing will be closed to members of the public, including the press," the court statement confirmed, ensuring privacy during these sensitive proceedings.
Meanwhile, Letby continues to maintain her innocence from prison. Her legal team has submitted 31 new expert medical reports to the Criminal Cases Review Commission, hoping for a third review of her case despite two previous applications for leave to appeal having been refused by the Court of Appeal.
This complex case continues to unfold through multiple legal channels, with the scheduled inquests representing another crucial step in examining the full circumstances surrounding these tragic infant deaths.
