Former neonatal nurse Lucy Letby will face a retrial for an outstanding charge of attempted murder, it has been announced.
In August, Letby was sentenced to a whole life order after being found guilty of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder six others while working at the Countess of Chester Hospital in 2015 and 2016.
However, the jury for the trial at Manchester Crown Court was unable to reach verdicts for six further counts of attempted murder.
The prosecution has now announced its intent to retry Letby for one of those outstanding charges involving a baby girl.
The provisional date for the retrial at Manchester Crown Court has been set for 10 June 2024, with the length of trial estimated at two to three weeks.
According to a BBC report, Letby attended a hearing announcing the retrial via a video link from HMP New Hall in Wakefield, West Yorkshire. Nicholas Johnson KC, prosecuting, reportedly confirmed that the Crown was not pursuing a retrial for the other five outstanding allegations.
Letby – who was acquitted of two counts of attempted murder at the original trial – lodged an appeal against her convictions earlier this month, and her barrister reportedly told the hearing that she maintained her innocence on all charges.
Jonathan Storer, chief prosecutor, told the BBC that the Crown had considered the views of police, prosecution counsel and the families affected before making its decisions.
‘Many competing factors were considered, including the evidence heard by the court during the long trial and its impact on our legal test for proceeding with a prosecution,’ he said. ‘We have met with all the families affected by these decisions to explain how they were reached.’
