The former nurse Lucy Letby will face no new charges on suspicion of murdering or harming babies, prosecutors have announced. Letby, 36, is currently serving 15 whole-life prison terms after being convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others at the Countess of Chester Hospital between June 2015 and June 2016.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said on Tuesday that it had considered 11 new offences, including two murders and two attempted murders, but concluded the evidence did not meet the legal test required to bring fresh charges. The CPS is understood to stand by the charges that resulted in Letby's original convictions.
Cheshire Constabulary, which has been investigating Letby since 2017, expressed surprise and disappointment at the decision. The force insisted the announcement did not affect or undermine her existing convictions and that its investigation into hospital bosses continued.
Letby has always maintained her innocence, claiming babies died or became seriously unwell due to poor care and under-qualified staff. Her legal team has referred the case to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), which investigates potential miscarriages of justice.
Letby's barrister, Mark McDonald, said there was overwhelming evidence that no babies were murdered, while senior Conservative MP David Davis welcomed the CPS decision and called for a swift review by the CCRC.
Cheshire police confirmed that three former senior leaders at the Countess of Chester Hospital remain on bail pending further inquiries into alleged corporate manslaughter and gross negligence manslaughter.
