A coroner has formally opened inquests into the deaths of five newborn babies that Lucy Letby was convicted of murdering. The 20-minute hearing at Cheshire Coroner's Court heard brief details before adjourning proceedings until September.
Senior coroner Jacqueline Devonish was told there was 'reason to suspect an unnatural death' at the Countess of Chester Hospital. Letby, 36, is serving 15 whole-life sentences for murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others between June 2015 and June 2016.
Letby's barrister, Mark McDonald, said the inquests were 'not the forum to re-litigate the convictions' but stressed the importance of understanding how each baby died amid 'systemic failings' at the hospital. Richard Baker KC, representing bereaved families, warned against using the inquests as a 'collateral attack on the convictions'.
Devonish adjourned the inquests pending a public inquiry by Lady Justice Kathryn Thirlwall, due to report in the coming months. Provisional full hearings are set for 14-25 September, with an internal review on 5 May.
An inquest into a sixth baby, Child D, was further suspended, while the family of Baby A declined to reopen their inquest. The Criminal Cases Review Commission continues to examine the convictions, and police are investigating three former hospital bosses on suspicion of corporate manslaughter.
