Lucy Letby Trial Revisited — What Happened and Where Things Stand in 2026

1. Who Lucy Letby Is and the Background of the Case

Lucy Letby is a British former neonatal nurse born in 1990 who became infamous for one of the most disturbing crime series in modern UK history. Between June 2015 and June 2016, while working in the neonatal unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital in northern England, an unusually high number of babies died or suffered unexplained collapses under mysterious circumstances.

After investigations identified statistical spikes in infant deaths during Letby’s shifts, law enforcement began a detailed inquiry that ultimately led to her arrest in 2020 and the opening of a full criminal prosecution.

Letby denied all allegations throughout. Her defense has consistently pointed to hospital hygiene issues, staffing pressures and medical mismanagement, arguing that death and injury could be attributed to natural causes or poor care rather than malicious intent.

---

2. The 2023 Trial in Manchester Crown Court

Letby’s trial began on 10 October 2022 at Manchester Crown Court and lasted nearly 10 months — one of the longest and most complex criminal trials in UK history.

Charges

She faced 22 charges:

• 7 counts of murder (for seven babies who died)

• 15 counts of attempted murder (for babies who survived collapses or serious injury).

Prosecution’s Case

The prosecution’s argument relied on a combination of clinical patterns, expert testimony, statistical correlations and behavioral evidence:

• Letby was present for a disproportionate number of unexplained infant collapses and deaths.

• Medical experts testified that certain abnormalities — like air embolisms and unusual blood test results — were consistent with deliberate harm.

• Witnesses described instances of Letby volunteering for extra shifts and being in rooms where incidents later occurred.

• Handwritten notes by Letby found after her arrest were interpreted by prosecutors as confessions or strong indications of culpability.

A key expert witness for the prosecution, Dr. Dewi Evans, argued that numerous babies’ deaths and serious injuries were consistent with deliberate injections of air or harmful substances — although this interpretation later became controversial.

Defense Argument

Letby’s defense team contested the prosecution on several fronts:

• Argued that statistical correlations do not prove causation.

• Asserted that the clinical interpretations used by the prosecution were misapplied.

• Stressed there was no direct visual evidence of wrongdoing (no CCTV or witness testimony catching Letby in the act).

• Claimed the handwritten notes reflected emotional distress and personal turmoil, not admission of guilt.

Verdict and Sentencing

On 18 August 2023, the jury convicted Letby of:

• 7 counts of murder

• 7 counts of attempted murder
  She was acquitted on a small number of additional attempted murder charges and some counts were left undecided.

She was subsequently sentenced to multiple whole-life orders, meaning she will never be eligible for release.

---

3. After the Conviction: Legal Challenges and Appeals

Appeal Attempts

Letby attempted to appeal her convictions in 2024, but the Court of Appeal refused to overturn the verdicts.

Her legal team then submitted fresh evidence to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) — the body in the UK that examines potential miscarriages of justice — including input from international medical experts. These experts have expressed skepticism about key medical interpretations used in the original trial.

The CCRC is still considering whether to refer the case back to the Court of Appeal for further review. That process can take months or years, and there is no guarantee a referral will be made.

---

4. Inquiry into Hospital Oversight and Systemic Failings

In the wake of the trial, the UK government established a public inquiry — the Thirlwall Inquiry — to examine how Letby was able to continue working and causing harm despite concerns raised by some colleagues.

The inquiry has examined:

• Hospital staff reporting practices

• Administrative and managerial responses to early concerns

• The broader structure of neonatal care and oversight

• Limitations in reporting lines and whistleblowing systems

Originally expected to publish its report in late 2025, the final report’s release has been pushed back to early 2026, so the full public explanation is not yet available.

The inquiry is also considering alleged corporate manslaughter or gross negligence by senior hospital leaders who may have failed to respond adequately to early warning signs. This is separate from Letby’s criminal culpability.

---

5. Recent Developments in 2026

No New Criminal Charges

In January 2026, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announced that no additional criminal charges would be brought against Letby related to 11 further alleged incidents, including death and non-fatal collapses at the Countess of Chester Hospital and Liverpool Women’s Hospital. The CPS said the evidence did not meet the threshold for prosecution.

This decision was controversial:

• Cheshire Constabulary had hoped charges would proceed.

• Some family groups felt frustrated that these additional cases won’t be tested in court.

• Supporters of Letby’s innocence viewed the CPS decision as vindication of concerns about evidence sufficiency.

Inquests and Coroner Hearings

Separate from criminal charges, inquests into the deaths of five of the babies influenced by Letby’s conviction have opened. Coroner Jacqueline Devonish has begun inquest procedures, though they may be adjourned pending the inquiry report’s release later this year.

Inquests aim to clarify cause of death and healthcare system responses but — under UK law — cannot overturn or contradict the existing criminal convictions.

Netflix Documentary and Media Coverage

In February 2026, a Netflix documentary titled The Investigation of Lucy Letby was released, prompting renewed public debate. The film revisits the case and raises controversial points about the evidence and conviction.

Critics of the documentary have pointed to the use of AI-generated interviewees and digitally altered imagery as problematic and emotionally insensitive, especially toward victims’ families. Many expressed that such techniques risk sensationalism over factual clarity.

Other media pieces and internet discussions have revisited key evidence with questions like:

• Were the medical interpretations justified?

• Did the statistical patterns prove causation?

• Did prosecution misrepresent certain documents or notes?

---

6. Controversy: Evidence and Expert Challenges

One of the most debated aspects of the Letby case — both during the trial and afterward — has been the interpretation of medical evidence.

Expert Reassessment

A panel of 14 international clinicians convened in 2025 led by neonatologist Dr. Shoo Lee found no evidence that the babies’ deaths could be attributed to deliberate harm, instead pointing to natural causes or substandard care. This finding underpins many of the potential miscarriage of justice arguments now before the CCRC.

In addition, notable experts like Professor Gisli Gudjonsson — an authority on false confessions — have publicly argued that Letby’s handwritten notes were not actual admissions of guilt but psychological expressions of distress, undermining one strand of the prosecution case.

Criticism from Former Prosecution Aid

In contrast, some original prosecution allies — including doctors who helped build the case — have expressed guilt or doubt about aspects of the evidence, such as the absence of direct visual proof. These admissions have intensified debate about the robustness of the case’s scientific foundations.

---

7. Public Reaction and Campaigns

Letby’s case has polarized public opinion in the UK and beyond:

• Victims’ families and their supporters stress the severity of the crimes and maintain that justice was served by the convictions.

• A campaign of nurses and healthcare professionals (e.g., Nineteen Nurses) has called for independent review, asserting Letby may have been wrongly convicted due to flawed interpretation of clinical patterns and systemic biases.

Media commentary and analysis continue to grapple with themes such as:

• The balance between statistical evidence and reasonable doubt

• The role of expert testimony in life-and-death trials

• Systemic healthcare oversight and accountability

---

8. What’s Next for the Case

Final Inquiry Report

The long-awaited public inquiry report, ready in early 2026, is expected to deliver a comprehensive account of how Letby’s crimes went undetected for so long, and what systemic NHS failings may have contributed. It may also shape how hospital oversight reforms are drafted and implemented.

CCRC Decision

The Criminal Cases Review Commission’s decision on whether to refer the case back to the Court of Appeal could take months. A referral would open the possibility — however remote — of a new appeal or retrial.

Continued Legal and Public Scrutiny

Even without new criminal charges, the Letby case is likely to remain the subject of ongoing legal scrutiny, ethical debate and public discussion due to its complexity and the profound questions it raises about evidence, expertise and justice.

---

Conclusion

The Lucy Letby case remains one of the most controversial and emotionally charged legal stories of the last decade in the UK. From the original trial and whole-life sentences to ongoing inquiries, media coverage and challenges to foundational evidence, the case continues to evolve.

As of early 2026, Letby remains in prison under life orders, the CPS has decided not to pursue additional criminal charges, major public inquiries are underway, and a growing chorus of medical experts and legal campaigners are urging further review of the evidence and convictions.