Inquests open into babies killed by Lucy Letby

The inquests into the deaths of five babies murdered by the nurse Lucy Letby at The Countess of Chester Hospital have been opened and adjourned.

Letby is serving a whole life prison sentence for murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others at the hospital in 2015 and 2016.

Today's hearing in Warrington related to five babies - four boys and one girl - whose inquests had not been opened before.

An inquest into the death of a 7th baby, known as A, was held in October 2016.

A court ruling means none of Letby's victims can be named.

They were identified during Letby's trial as babies C, E, I, O and P.

The inquest into a 6th baby - a girl known as Baby D - was suspended when the criminal investigation began, but was also re-opened and adjourned today.

Coroner's officer Darren Reid read out the details of how and when the babies had died and how efforts had been made to resuscitate them.

In each case he also stated that Letby had been convicted of their murder in August 2023.

Mr Reid said in each case "there is reason to suspect an unnatural death."

The court heard an inquest into the death of Baby A was held in October 2016.

It concluded it could not be determined what caused his collapse or whether it was due to an unnatural event.

But it was said that Baby A's family did not want his inquest re-opened.

The senior coroner for Cheshire, Jacqueline Devonish, suspended the inquests until May this year because of the Thirlwall Public Inquiry into Letby's crimes and the circumstances around them.

Coroner's officer Det Insp Darren Reid read out the details of how and when the five babies had died and how efforts had been made to resuscitate them.

In each case he also stated that Letby had been convicted of their murder in August 2023.

Mr Reid said in each case "there is reason to suspect an unnatural death."

Letby has been granted interested party status in the inquests and is represented by her barrister Mark McDonald.

Inquiry chair Lady Justice Thirwall, who listened to months of evidence at Liverpool Town Hall, is due to publish her report after Easter.

The inquests are due to resume between September 14 and 25 this year.

Last month, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announced it would not bring further charges against Letby.

Cheshire Police had submitted files of evidence to consider alleged offences of murder and attempted murder related to two infants who died and seven who survived.

However, CPS chiefs concluded the evidential test was not met in any of the cases.

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