The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has definitively announced that no further criminal charges will be brought against convicted child serial killer Lucy Letby. This decision concludes a high-profile investigation initiated in 2025, which examined allegations concerning nine additional children at hospitals where Letby was employed as a nurse.
Investigation Details and CPS Assessment
The CPS conducted a thorough review of the evidence pertaining to two infant deaths and seven non-fatal collapses. After meticulous examination, prosecutors concluded that the evidential test required for criminal prosecution was not met in any of these specific cases. This standard necessitates that there be a realistic prospect of conviction, which the CPS determined was absent based on the available material.
Police Disappointment and Familial Notification
Cheshire Constabulary, which led the investigative work, has expressed significant disappointment with the CPS's ruling. The force stated it believed the evidence it gathered met the CPS's own charging threshold, a position that contrasts sharply with the prosecution service's final assessment.
The CPS has taken steps to directly inform the families of the children involved in these additional allegations. Officials have offered to hold detailed meetings with these families to explain the reasoning behind the complex legal decision not to pursue charges.
Background and Legal Context
Lucy Letby is already serving a whole life order for the murders of seven babies and the attempted murders of six others at the Countess of Chester Hospital. This latest announcement pertains solely to separate allegations that emerged subsequent to her initial conviction and sentencing.
The decision underscores the rigorous and independent nature of the CPS's role in the justice system, where evidential sufficiency, rather than public sentiment or police confidence, is the paramount legal consideration for proceeding with a prosecution.
