What happens now baby killer Lucy Letby has been convicted again as public inquiry set to begin
The NHS will face scrutiny over alleged failures to listen to whistleblowers’ warnings about baby killer Lucy Letby after the nurse was convicted of another attempted murder.
Letby was convicted of trying to murder a “very premature” infant by dislodging her breathing tube in the early hours of 17 February 2016, following a retrial at Manchester Crown Court.
The 34 year-old’s latest conviction comes after she was found guilty of the murders of seven babies and the attempted murders of six others at the Countess of Chester Hospital’s neo-natal unit between June 2015 and June 2016, following her original trial last August.
The former nurse was given a rare whole-life order, making her one of Britain’s most prolific child serial killers. She is due to be sentenced for the further offence on Friday.
Detective superintendent Simon Blackwell, who is strategic lead for Operation Hummingbird, said: “The investigation, which is ongoing, focuses on the indictment period of the charges for Lucy Letby, from June 2015 to June 2016, and is considering areas including senior leadership and decision making to determine whether any criminality has taken place. The investigation is complex and sensitive and specific updates regarding progress will be issued at the appropriate time. At this stage we are not investigating any individuals in relation to gross negligence manslaughter.
“We recognise that this investigation has a significant impact on a number of different stakeholders including the families in this case and we want to reassure that we are committed to carrying out a thorough investigation. Since Letby’s original convictions in August 2023 it has been a very busy period for the investigation team. This has included a subsequent appeal, the re-trial for one count of attempted murder and the launch of the statutory public inquiry that Cheshire Constabulary is assisting with.”
Source: The Independent, 2 July 2024