Lucy Letby to face no further criminal charges, says prosecution

Convicted baby killer and former neonatal nurse Lucy Letby will not face criminal charges for further allegations over baby deaths and non-fatal collapses at two hospitals where she worked.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said it had reviewed evidence following a 2025 investigation into fresh allegations of murder and attempted murder against nine children, but concluded ‘that no criminal charges should be brought in respect to those further allegations’.

Cheshire Constabulary has criticised the decision as ‘not the outcome we had anticipated’, adding ‘we were confident that we held enough evidence to take to the CPS’.

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Letby is currently serving 15 whole-life prison terms for the murder of seven babies and the attempted murder of seven others at the Countess of Chester Hospital neonatal unit where she worked between 2015 and 2016.

Of the 11 total latest charges considered by the CPS, eight offences of attempted murder and one of murder related to the Countess of Chester Hospital, while one offence of attempted murder and one offence (same child) of murder related to Liverpool Women’s Hospital.

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.’

He added: ‘We concluded that the evidential test was not met in any of those cases.

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‘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.’

In a statement on Tuesday, Cheshire Constabulary said: ‘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.

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‘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.’