Lucy Letby, convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to kill six more, has been sentenced to a whole life order, meaning she will die in prison. She is only the fourth female criminal in British history to receive such a sentence, with no hope of parole.
Letby is expected to be classified as a 'restricted status' prisoner, the female equivalent of a Category A inmate, to minimise escape risk and protect the public. She will be held in one of only three prisons in England and Wales designated for such inmates: HMP Low Newton in Co Durham, HMP Bronzefield in Surrey, or HMP New Hall in Yorkshire.
Criminal barrister Tom Nicholson told the BBC that whole life term prisoners face 'maximum security conditions, visiting restrictions, and restrictions on how they operate in prison.' The prison governor must also consider the risk of harm from other inmates.
An independent inquiry into the Letby case, announced by the government after her conviction on 18 August, currently lacks statutory powers, meaning it cannot compel witnesses to attend or provide evidence. However, pressure is mounting to change this, with Education Secretary Gillian Keegan stating the option 'is on the table.'
Detectives are reviewing over 4,000 admissions of babies into neonatal units at Countess of Chester and Liverpool Women's Hospital, where Letby worked. Cheshire Constabulary's Det Supt Paul Hughes said, 'We would be foolish if we were to think we have gathered all cases that Lucy Letby could have touched in one go,' but stressed not all 4,000 are being investigated.
The prosecution has until 15 September to decide whether to seek a retrial on six counts of attempted murder on which the jury could not reach verdicts. Meanwhile, civil claims against the hospital trust are expected, focusing on whether managers failed to act on clinicians' concerns.
