Lucy Letby will not face further criminal charges

Lucy Letby will face no new criminal charges over baby deaths and collapses at hospitals where she worked.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said it had reviewed evidence into further allegations of murder and attempted murder against nine children at the Countess of Chester Hospital and Liverpool Women’s Hospital but “the evidential test was not met in any of those cases”.

Cheshire Police, which submitted the evidence, said the decision was “not the outcome that we had anticipated”.

Former nurse Letby is serving 15 whole-life terms for murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven more, with two attempts on one of her victims, between June 2015 and June 2016.

Frank Ferguson, head of the CPS’s special crime and counter terrorism division, said it had written to the families involved and would offer meetings to explain the decision.

He 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.”

The Cheshire force said it was “confident” that it held enough evidence.

It said in a statement: “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.”

The force added: “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.”

It said it was “deeply grateful” to the experts and witnesses who had contributed to the investigation.

“Their input has been invaluable in answering many difficult questions on behalf of the families.”

It said the announcement does not affect or undermine Letby’s convictions 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”.

The force said the decision has no impact on Operation Duet – its ongoing investigation into corporate manslaughter and gross negligence manslaughter at the Countess of Chester Hospital, which remain separate investigations.

A group of campaigners has submitted reports to legal review body the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) to try to get Letby’s convictions overturned.

Barrister Mark McDonald, who is representing the former nurse, said: “Lucy Letby has always maintained her innocence. She has never hurt a child and never would.

“It is vital that the case is now referred back to the Court of Appeal as a matter of urgency.

“Thirty-one reports have been submitted to the CCRC, compiled by 26 internationally renowned experts, which provide overwhelming evidence that no babies were murdered.

The reality is that a young innocent woman is in prison for crimes she has not committed.”

David Davis MP, who is backing Letby’s bid for freedom, welcomed the CPS’s decision.

The Conservative MP for Goole and Pocklington posted on X: “The CCRC must conclude its review quickly and refer the case to the Court of Appeal.

“It has long been my view that any retrial in Lucy Letby’s case should happen as quickly as possible.”