The senior coroner for Cheshire has formally opened inquests into the deaths of five newborn babies who were murdered by former neonatal nurse Lucy Letby. The proceedings, which took place at Cheshire Coroner's Court, were adjourned until September, with a provisional date set for full hearings later this year.
Details of the Coroner's Hearing
In a brief twenty-minute hearing, Senior Coroner Jacqueline Devonish heard initial details regarding the tragic deaths of the infants, who are identified in court documents as Babies C, E, I, O, and P. Detective Inspector Darren Reid, representing the coroner's office, stated that the inquests were requested due to a clear "reason to suspect an unnatural death" at the Countess of Chester Hospital.
Legal Constraints and Family Perspectives
Under the Coroners and Justice Act 2009, the outcome of these inquests must not contradict the murder convictions already secured in criminal proceedings. During a prior hearing in Warrington, Letby's barrister, Mark McDonald, emphasised that the inquests are "not the forum to re-litigate the convictions." However, he argued it remains crucial for the coroner to fully understand the circumstances of each death, highlighting alleged "systemic failings" within the hospital's neonatal unit.
Richard Baker KC, representing several of the bereaved families, reinforced that the inquests must not be used as a "collateral attack on the convictions." He stated unequivocally that the coroner is "bound by those convictions and cannot act in any way that is inconsistent with them." Coroner Devonish acknowledged this legal position, noting that how the babies died has been determined by the verdict of the criminal trial, though she indicated this could be revisited if an appeal is successful.
Adjournment and Broader Investigations
The coroner has decided to adjourn the five inquests until the publication of a public inquiry report led by Lady Justice Kathryn Thirlwall. This inquiry has been examining the circumstances surrounding the deaths and is expected to release its findings in the coming months. A provisional schedule has been set for the full inquest hearings to take place from 14th to 25th September, with an internal review scheduled for 5th May.
Status of Other Inquests
Separately, an inquest into the death of a sixth baby, Child D, which was originally opened and suspended in 2016, was further suspended during Wednesday's proceedings. Additionally, an inquest into the death of a seventh newborn, Baby A, was conducted in October 2016, resulting in a narrative conclusion. This conclusion stated it could not be determined whether the child's collapse and subsequent death were due to natural or unnatural causes. The family of Baby A has expressed no desire for this inquest to be reopened.
Background on Lucy Letby's Case
Lucy Letby, aged 36, is currently serving fifteen whole-life prison terms after being convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others. These horrific crimes occurred at the Countess of Chester Hospital between 2015 and 2016. Letby, who is from Hereford, continues to maintain her innocence, claiming that the infants died or suffered serious harm due to poor care and chronic understaffing within the unit.
Appeals and Further Legal Developments
The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), which investigates potential miscarriages of justice, has been examining Letby's convictions since February of last year. To date, Letby has made two unsuccessful attempts to overturn her convictions at the Court of Appeal in London.
In a significant development last month, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announced that Letby will face no new charges. Prosecutors reviewed a file of evidence from Cheshire Constabulary concerning eleven new alleged offences, including two murders and nine attempted murders. These allegations involved incidents at both the Countess of Chester Hospital and Liverpool Women's Hospital. However, the CPS concluded that the evidence did not meet the required threshold to bring fresh charges.
Meanwhile, Cheshire Constabulary continues its investigation into three former senior managers from the Countess of Chester Hospital. These individuals were arrested last year on suspicion of corporate manslaughter or gross negligence manslaughter, indicating that scrutiny of the hospital's management and systemic issues remains ongoing.
