INQUESTS into the deaths of the babies killed by nurse Lucy Letby are set to open next month at Cheshire Coroner’s Court in Warrington on February 4th at 10.30 am – but will not be open to the public or press.
The inquests are set to open after it was decided by the CPS that no further charges would be brought against Letby, who is currently serving 15 whole-life orders.
The inquests touch upon a number of baby deaths at the Countess of Chester Hospital in 2015/2016, and linked to criminal proceedings resulting in the conviction of Letby.
The openings will be published on the court website in accordance with statutory and other legal requirements following a pre-inquest review hearing listed to proceed on 28 January 2026.
Mrs Justice Steyn issued a Reporting Direction on 15 January 2021 stating that the order does not impose a duty to anonymise the deceased babies or their parents, but it does operate to impose a continued restriction on naming the babies or their parents in the reporting. The restriction continues to operate worldwide to prohibit the publication of the names of the deceased baby and his/her parents because any such publication of would likely lead members of the public to identify his/her as being a witness in the corresponding criminal proceedings.
In the event of any new reporting restrictions, the press will be notified.
Given the existing lifetime injunctions, the pre-inquest review hearing will be closed to members of the public, including the press.
Letby, aged 35, from Hereford, is currently serving 15 whole-life orders after she was convicted across two trials at Manchester Crown Court of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others, with two attempts on one of her victims, between June 2015 and June 2016.
Yesterday, Tuesday, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announced that it will not be charging Lucy Letby with any further offences after reviewing files of evidence that Cheshire Constabulary submitted in July 2025.
A spokesperson said: “This was not the outcome 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.
“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.
“There will be some who will feel that this is news worth celebrating. We do not share this view and would ask that people respect the privacy and feelings of the families involved.
“We are deeply grateful to the experts and witnesses who have contributed to this investigation. Their input has been invaluable in answering many difficult questions on behalf of the families.
“Today’s announcement does not affect or undermine the convictions of Lucy Letby for multiple murders and attempted murders of premature babies following an extensive investigation and two criminal trials, including one of the longest-running murder trials in British criminal history and two unsuccessful appeals.
“This decision by the CPS will have no impact on Operation Duet – our ongoing investigation into corporate manslaughter and gross negligence manslaughter at the Countess of Chester Hospital. “These remain separate investigations.
“Our thoughts remain with the families affected by this.”
