In a surprising turn of events, serial killer nurse Lucy Letby will face no additional criminal charges related to the deaths and collapses of babies at two hospitals where she worked. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has reviewed the evidence and concluded that the “evidential test was not met” for any of the further allegations of murder and attempted murder.
The announcement has sparked outrage and disappointment from Cheshire Constabulary, who had believed they had enough evidence to secure charges. The police force expressed their dismay, stating that “this was not the outcome we had anticipated” and that they “must respect the decision that has been made.”
Letby, 35, from Hereford, is currently serving 15 whole-life orders after being convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others between June 2015 and June 2016 at the Countess of Chester Hospital. The CPS has stated that it considered offences of murder and attempted murder in respect of two infants who died and attempted murder in respect of seven infants who survived, but ultimately concluded that the evidential test was not met.
Frank Ferguson, head of the CPS’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 decision has been met with mixed reactions, with some feeling it is news worth celebrating, while the police and the families involved have expressed their disappointment. Cheshire Constabulary has stated that they “would ask that people respect the privacy and feelings of the families involved.”
Letby’s barrister, Mark McDonald, has maintained her innocence, stating that “Lucy Letby has always maintained her innocence – she has never hurt a child and never would.” He has also submitted 31 reports to the Criminal Cases Review Commission in an effort to have her convictions overturned, claiming that “overwhelming evidence” shows that no babies were murdered.
The case continues to be a source of controversy, with the families of the victims seeking answers and the legal team fighting to clear Letby’s name. The CPS’s decision not to pursue further charges has done little to quell the ongoing debate surrounding this complex and tragic case.