The families of babies said to have been harmed by Lucy Letby have failed to overturn a decision not to bring new charges against the former nurse. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) confirmed that an extensive review, involving an independent prosecutor, upheld the original decision.
In January, the CPS had declined to charge Letby with further counts of murder and attempted murder relating to nine babies, including two who died, stating the evidential test "was not met". The families of six of the nine babies involved subsequently challenged this decision via the Victims' Right to Review scheme.
Malcolm McHaffie, head of the CPS special crime division, stated that 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 CPS has written to the families involved and will offer meetings.
Letby, now 36, was convicted in 2024 of murdering seven babies and attempting to kill seven others at the Countess of Chester Hospital between June 2015 and June 2016. She was sentenced to 15 whole life terms.
Cheshire Police announced in 2024 that it was examining earlier non-fatal collapses and deaths of babies at the Countess of Chester Hospital and Liverpool Women's Hospital, where Letby had trained, going back to 2012.
The Criminal Cases Review Commission is considering evidence presented on Letby's behalf by an international panel of medical professionals, who have suggested poor medical care and natural causes were the reasons for the babies collapsing. A public inquiry led by Lady Justice Thirlwall is due to publish its findings later this year.