Prosecutors are poised to make a crucial decision regarding the possibility of a retrial for Lucy Letby, the former nurse sentenced to a whole life order after being found guilty of the murders of seven babies and the attempted murders of six others at the Countess of Chester Hospital’s neonatal unit during 2015 and 2016. The jury in her trial was unable to reach verdicts on six counts of attempted murder, and a hearing is scheduled to take place at Manchester Crown Court today, outlining the Crown Prosecution Service’s intentions.*

Lucy Letby, aged 33, who hails from Hereford, had consistently denied all allegations levelled against her and subsequently lodged an appeal against her conviction at the Court of Appeal earlier this month.

The trial that led to her life sentence was marked by its high-profile nature, focusing on Letby’s actions at the neonatal unit of the Countess of Chester Hospital. A jury composed of seven women and four men found her guilty of the murders of seven infants and the attempted murders of six others, an emotionally charged verdict that was delivered in August 2023.

However, the jury’s deliberations were marred by an inability to reach a consensus on several counts related to attempted murder. Specifically, they were unable to render verdicts on six counts of attempted murder involving five children, referred to in court documents as Child H, Child J, Child K, Child N, and Child Q.

In a hearing scheduled for today, Monday, September 25, the Crown Prosecution Service is expected to disclose its course of action regarding the unresolved charges. The decision to seek a retrial for Letby on these counts will likely hinge on a careful assessment of the available evidence and the legal considerations surrounding the case.

During the trial, it was alleged that Letby had attempted to murder three baby girls, designated as Child H, Child J, and Child K. Additionally, the jury was unable to reach verdicts on two counts of attempted murder related to Child N, a baby boy, and an accusation that she tried to murder another male infant identified as Child Q. However, Letby was found guilty of one count of attempted murder involving Child N.

The case against Lucy Letby drew widespread attention due to the shocking nature of the allegations and the circumstances surrounding the neonatal unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital. The hospital witnessed an unusual and significant increase in the number of infants suffering serious and unexplained collapses during the years 2015 and 2016.

Revelations during the trial indicated that concerns about Letby’s presence during these collapses were raised by some consultants, prompting discussions with hospital authorities. Her role within the unit became a subject of heightened scrutiny, especially after a series of unexplained incidents.

Despite being temporarily reassigned to clerical duties, Letby registered a grievance procedure, which was eventually resolved in her favour. She was slated to return to the neonatal unit in March 2017. However, her arrest at her Chester home in July 2018 and subsequent charges in November of the same year led to a lengthy legal process.

The trial began on October 4, 2022, with the jury’s final deliberations taking place on August 18, 2023. On August 21, 2023, Lucy Letby received a whole life order, marking a significant development in one of the most harrowing cases of child serial killings in recent memory.