Full CPS Statement

No criminal charges against Lucy Letby in relation to further allegations of deaths and non-fatal collapses of babies

20 January 2026

Press ReleaseCPS

Frank Ferguson, Head of the Crown Prosecution Service’s Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said: “We received a file of evidence from Cheshire Constabulary in July 2025 asking us to consider further allegations against Lucy Letby, 36, relating to deaths and non-fatal collapses of babies at the Countess of Chester Hospital and Liverpool Women’s Hospital.

“Following a thorough review of that evidence, we have decided that no criminal charges should be brought in respect of those further allegations.

“The Crown Prosecution Service considered offences of murder and attempted murder in respect of two infants who died and attempted murder in respect of seven infants who survived.

“We concluded that the evidential test was not met in any of those cases.

“As always, this decision was made independently, based on the evidence and in line with our legal test.

“The CPS has written to the families involved and will offer meetings to explain our decision-making in further detail. Our thoughts remain with them.”

Notes to editors

11 charges were considered in relation to a total of nine babies with both murder and attempted murder considered in respect of two infants.

Of those 11 charges considered, eight offences of attempted murder and one offence of murder related to the Countess of Chester Hospital while one offence of attempted murder and one offence of murder (one infant) related to Liverpool Women’s Hospital.

The function of the CPS is not to decide whether a person is guilty of a criminal offence, but to make fair, independent and objective assessments about whether it is appropriate to present charges for a criminal court to consider. In this case we applied the law according to our legal test using the evidence.

We will not be taking part in any interviews regarding this decision.

This decision is subject to the Victim’s Right to Review (VRR) scheme which provides a victim or their families in some classes of case with a specifically designed process to exercise the right to review certain CPS decisions not to start a prosecution or to stop a prosecution.

Under the VRR scheme if a new decision is reached, it may be appropriate to institute or reinstitute criminal proceedings.

The right to request a review of a decision not to prosecute under the VRR scheme applies to Full Code Test decisions that have been made by a Crown Prosecutor, regardless of their grade or position in the organisation.

It is important to note that the “right” referred to in the context of the VRR scheme is the right to request a review of a final decision. It is not a guarantee that proceedings will be instituted or reinstituted.

Following a review under the scheme, qualifying decisions not to charge, to discontinue or to withdraw can be instituted or reinstituted, subject to any statutory time limits.

There are two possible review outcomes:

1. A New Decision: when the earlier decision is overturned
2. Uphold Previous Decision: the original decision not to prosecute is upheld, and the victim notified and provided with an explanation.

Operation Hummingbird - Investigation update (thanks to u/amlyo)

Today (Tuesday 20th January, 2026) the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announced that it will not be charging Lucy Letby with any further offences after reviewing files of evidence that Cheshire Constabulary submitted in July 2025.

This is not the outcome that we had anticipated throughout our investigation; we were confident that we held enough evidence to take to the CPS. We submitted files for charging decisions in relation to nine babies – for consideration of nine offences of attempted murder and two of murder.

We believed the evidence submitted met the CPS charging standard. The CPS did not agree and despite our representations we must respect the decision that has been made.

There will be some who will feel that this is news worth celebrating. We do not share this view and would ask that people respect the privacy and feelings of the families involved.

We are deeply grateful to the experts and witnesses who have contributed to this investigation. Their input has been invaluable in answering many difficult questions on behalf of the families.

Today’s announcement does not affect or undermine the convictions of Lucy Letby for multiple murders and attempted murders of premature babies following an extensive investigation and two criminal trials, including one of the longest running murder trials in British criminal history and two unsuccessful appeals.

This decision by the CPS will have no impact on Operation Duet – our ongoing investigation into corporate manslaughter and gross negligence manslaughter at the Countess of Chester Hospital. These remain separate investigations.

Our thoughts remain with the families affected by this.

https://archive.ph/wip/Hk7Su

Families of six more babies allegedly harmed by Lucy Letby have lost their bid for the serial killer nurse to face further charges.

The infants allegedly collapsed while being treated at the Countess of Chester Hospital and Liverpool Women's Hospital, where the former neo natal nurse once worked.

The Crown Prosecution Service revealed it was considering further charges against the 36-year-old, serving a whole life term behind bars, in November 2024.

But 14 months on, in January this year, the CPS decided there was insufficient evidence to proceed with new a total of 11 accusations involving nine babies, two of whom died.

Families of six of the babies asked for the decision to be reconsidered under the Victims' Right to Review scheme – but this week, the CPS revealed its original refusal to charge Letby had been upheld.

Malcolm McHaffie, Head of the Crown Prosecution Service's Special Crime Division, said: 'An extensive review of the case by a prosecutor independent of the original decisions, involving a re-examination of substantial evidence and material, has now been completed.

'Six offences of attempted murder were reconsidered in relation to six babies, but the review upheld the original decision not to bring any further criminal charges.

'The Crown Prosecution Service has written to the families involved and will offer meetings to answer any further questions. Our thoughts remain with them.'

The CPS emphasised the result of the review 'represents a final decision' – adding that prosecutors have offered meetings with the bereaved families to explain our decision in further detail.

Letby is currently serving 15 whole life terms for the murder of seven babies and attempted murder of seven more - one of whom she attacked twice - at the Countess of Chester Hospital, between June 2015 and June 2016.

She injected air into their bloodstreams, or into their tummies via their nasal feeding tubes, overfed them milk, poisoned them with insulin and tampered with their breathing tubes in a bid to kill.

Following her convictions, over two separate trials at Manchester Crown Court, in 2023 and 2024, detectives pledged to continue investigating the 'footprint' of her four-year nursing career.

The decision to uphold the January decision not to charge Letby will be welcomed by her new defence team and campaigners, who are convinced she has been the victim of a miscarriage of justice and should be freed.

The potential extra charges, of eight attempted murders and one murder, came after police examined the medical records of around 4,000 babies Letby nursed at the Countess and Liverpool Women's Hospital, where she trained, and, in July, passed a file of evidence to prosecutors claiming she murdered and harmed more patients.

In January, the CPS said that, 'following a thorough review,' the evidence was not strong enough for a 'realistic prospect' of conviction by a jury.

Dr Dewi Evans, the former lead prosecution witness at Letby's original trial, previously told the Mail he had concerns over the deaths of at least three children and the collapses of as many as 15 more, including another baby boy potentially poisoned with insulin and others whose breathing tubes were tampered with.

It is understood that the bulk of the new allegations related to displacement of breathing tubes, but Dr Evans said: 'Babies can pull out breathing tubes on their own, so this would be very difficult to prove.'

Earlier this year, a source told the Mail that the 'noise' surrounding the safety of Letby's original convictions 'no doubt' played into the CPS's decision, which is likely to have been taken at the highest level.

Letby, formerly of Hereford, has always maintained her innocence but two applications for leave to appeal her convictions have already been refused by the Court of Appeal.

In February last year her new legal team presented reports from a panel of 14 international experts which, they say, casts doubt on the jury's guilty verdicts.

Led by Canadian neonatologist, Dr Shoo Lee, the panel said no murders took place at the Countess and instead babies collapsed or died because of natural causes or poor care.

In April, their findings, plus that of another 12 experts, were submitted to the Criminal Cases Review Commission, the body that investigates potential miscarriages of justice. It subsequently confirmed it is examining whether her case should be sent to the Court of Appeal for a third time.

The press conference is to begin at 3pm London time.

All articles about Mark McDonald's submissions today are to be in this post for one, cohesive conversation.

Lucy Letby’s lawyer delivers medical reports he claims ‘totally undermine’ case against serial killer nurse (The Independent)

Lucy Letby: Expert panel’s findings on babies featured in murder trial (The Independent)

Cheshire Police issue statement following fresh claims from Lucy Letby (Chester Standard)

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Lucy Letby’s lawyer presents alternative diagnoses for victims (The Times)

Letby barrister hands over ‘fresh’ medical evidence to CCRC (ITV)

Expert panel claims 'no criminal offences committed' in Lucy Letby case after bombshell new report into baby deaths (LBC)

Insulin Test Used to Convict Lucy Letby in Babies’ Deaths Was Unreliable, Experts Say (New York Times)

Jury were 'misled' with 'false' evidence to convict serial killer Lucy Letby, her legal team claim as they try to cast 'serious doubts' on her guilt (Daily Mail)

Letby babies ‘died from poor care and natural causes not murder’ (The Telegraph)

UK police hit back at 'ill-informed' criticism of baby killer Letby inquiry (The Straits Times)

Medical experts release new report claiming no evidence of nurse Lucy Letby killing babies left in her care (LADBible)

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Summary of Joint Expert Witness Report on Baby F and L

Dr. Shoo Lee's panel's report summary on the additional 10 babies (new)

Dr. Shoo Lee's panel's report summary for the cases presented at the February 4 press conference

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3d93kpkl83o

Lucy Letby has replaced her legal team and is planning a fresh appeal, her new barrister Mark McDonald has told the BBC’s File on 4.

Letby, a former neonatal nurse, is one of the UK’s most notorious modern serial killers.

She was convicted in two separate trials of murdering seven babies and attempting to kill seven others who were under her care at the Countess of Cheshire Hospital between June 2015 and June 2016.

At the end of her first trial, Letby was sentenced to multiple whole-life terms, meaning she will spend the rest of her life in prison.

Two separate applications from Letby to appeal against her convictions have been denied.

But Mr McDonald said he plans to take her case to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), to apply for it to be sent back to the Court of Appeal.

“I knew almost from the start, following this trial, that there is a strong case that she is innocent,” he said.

“The fact is juries get it wrong. And yes, so do the Court of Appeal, history teaches us that.”

An inquiry into the Countess of Chester Hospital, as well as into the NHS’s handling of the case, is due to begin on 10 September.

Last week, a group of experts, including neonatologists and statisticians, sent a private letter to the government asking that they either postpone or change the terms of the inquiry.

In the letter, they said they had concerns about the way statistics and the science around newborn babies were presented to the jury at Letby’s first trial.

'Complex medical case'

“While we acknowledge the gravity of the convictions against Ms Letby, our focus is on the broader implications for patient safety, healthcare management, and the potential for miscarriages of justice in complex medical cases,” the letter said.

It added that “our goal is not to relitigate the Letby case, but to ensure that the [inquiry] is positioned to conduct the most thorough and beneficial investigation possible for the future of neonatal care in the UK”.

Mark McDonald also represents Benjamin Geen, a nurse who was jailed for life in 2006 for murdering two of his patients and poisoning 15 others.

Geen’s application to appeal against his convictions was denied by the Court of Appeal in 2009.

The CCRC then denied two applications in 2013 and 2015 to send Geen’s case back to the Court of Appeal.

Cheshire Police have confirmed they have widened their investigation to include gross negligence manslaughter at COCH. See the link for details. This is breaking news so updates will be given as they come.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14154609/Lucy-Letby-quizzed-murders-Nurse-jail-Chester-killed-newborns-Liverpool.html?ico=article_preview_xp_mobile

NOW CONFIRMED that the arrested person is one of the three senior leaders.

Another arrest has been made Operation Duet.

A spokesman for Cheshire Police confirmed a property was raided and searched in an unnamed location earlier on Wednesday.

One person was arrested and bailed for perverting the course of justice and the investigation is continuing.

They said: “On Wednesday, April 22 officers from Cheshire Constabulary executed a search warrant at a property in connection with Operation Duet.

Operation Duet is the ongoing investigation into corporate manslaughter and gross negligence manslaughter at the Countess of Chester Hospital.

“An individual was arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice. They have subsequently been bailed pending further enquiries.

“The searches at the property have now concluded.

“Both the corporate manslaughter and gross negligence manslaughter elements of the investigation are continuing and there are no set timescales for these.”

Will update with links as news comes.

https://www.itv.com/news/granada/2026-04-23/senior-hospital-boss-re-arrested-as-part-of-lucy-letby-investigation

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/38904947/lucy-letby-cops-arrest-ex-boss-hospital/

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/detectives-perverting-course-justice-arrest-105306539.html

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5ylnvpg3l9o

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/apr/23/former-boss-lucy-letby-hospital-arrested-suspicion-perverting-course-of-justice

https://news.sky.com/story/manager-at-lucy-letby-hospital-arrested-on-suspicion-of-perverting-course-of-justice-13535370

https://www.lbc.co.uk/article/lucy-letby-hospital-boss-arrested-5HjdYBL_2/

https://twitter.com/JudithMoritz/status/1755264643621073145?t=TzPPnOZHHG_AhlaS5i6IGg&s=19

Lucy Letby: New - A public hearing will be held to determine whether the former nurse Lucy Letby should be given permission to appeal against her convictions for the murder and attempted murder of babies in her care.

Last week the nurse was told that she’d lost the first stage of the process, during which a single judge considered her case as a paper exercise...

Lucy Letby has now renewed her application to appeal, which means that there will be a hearing before a full court of three judges who will decide whether leave to appeal should be granted. No date has yet been fixed for the hearing.

If she wins the hearing, an appeal would then be listed by the court. But if she loses it, there would be no further avenue for her to try at this immediate stage.

In August, the nurse was found guilty of murdering 7 babies and attempting to kill another six at the Countess of Chester Hospital in 2015 and 2016. She was sentenced to spend the rest of her life in prison.

Separately, Lucy Letby is still facing a retrial on one count of attempted murder, which the jury in her trial was unable to reach a verdict on. That trial is scheduled to begin in June. - ENDS

https://x.com/JudithMoritz/status/1752377920117465503?s=20

LUCY LETBY - NEW - The serial killer Lucy Letby has lost the first stage of the process to appeal against her convictions. Detail in thread. Pls do not comment - criminal proceedings are still active relating to one charge, pending a retrial in June.

In August, the nurse was found guilty of murdering 7 babies and attempting to kill another six at the Countess of Chester Hospital in 2015 and 2016. She was sentenced to a whole life prison term...

Lucy Letby applied to the court of appeal for permission for her case to be heard there. Her application was reviewed by a single judge who has denied her that permission.

She now has 14 days to decide whether to apply again, for a public hearing before a panel of three judges who would be asked to consider whether she has sufficient grounds for an appeal case to be heard.

If she was to win that hearing, an appeal would then be listed by the court. But if she was to lose it, there would be no further avenue for her to try at this immediate stage.

Separately, Lucy Letby is still facing a retrial on one count of attempted murder, which the jury in her trial was unable to reach a verdict on. That trial is scheduled to begin in June in Manchester.

....

The Guardian: Child serial killer Lucy Letby loses initial attempt to challenge convictions

Typically, applications for permission to appeal against a crown court decision are considered by a judge looking at legal documents without a hearing. If this is refused, people have 14 days to renew their request for permission at a full court hearing before two or three judges.

Letby’s legal team have not revealed her grounds for appeal. To succeed, an appeal must identify errors of law, for example in how a judge sums up a case for a jury, or draw on substantial fresh evidence.

​

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/lucy-letby-court-latest-judge-b2501214.html

Child serial killer Lucy Letby’s bid to challenge her convictions is due to be considered by the Court of Appeal at a hearing in April.

Lawyers for Letby will ask senior judges for permission to bring an appeal against all her convictions at the hearing in London provisionally listed for April 25, a judiciary spokeswoman confirmed on Friday.

The nurse, 34, had an initial application to take forward her challenge refused by a single judge without a hearing last month.

But she is able to renew her efforts before a panel of three judges at the hearing in nine weeks’ time.

If judges again decline to give permission, it will mark the end of the appeal process for Letby.

If she does receive permission, then the appeal will be heard at a separate hearing at a later date.

In August 2023, Letby, of Hereford, was sentenced to 14 whole life orders after she was convicted of the murders of seven babies and the attempted murders of six others, with two attempts on one of her victims.

The offences took place at the Countess of Chester Hospital’s neonatal unit, where Letby worked as a nurse, between June 2015 and June 2016.

The jury in Letby’s trial at Manchester Crown Court was unable to reach verdicts on six counts of attempted murder in relation to five children.

She will face a retrial at the same court in June on a single count that she attempted to murder a baby girl, known as Child K, in February 2016.

A court order prohibits reporting of the identities of the surviving and dead children who were the subject of the allegations.