Lucy Letby: proven serial killer or miscarriage of justice? Where the case stands

Lucy Letby is serving whole-life orders for murdering babies on a hospital neonatal unit. She is also the subject of one of the most sustained campaigns in recent British history claiming a miscarriage of justice. A public inquiry has now reported on how the hospital handled the deaths, prosecutors have declined to bring more charges, and the body that reviews possible wrongful convictions is still considering her case. This story sets out what has been decided, by whom, and what remains contested.

Background

Letby worked as a neonatal nurse at the Countess of Chester Hospital. In August 2023, after a trial lasting more than ten months at Manchester Crown Court, a jury convicted her of seven counts of murder and seven counts of attempted murder relating to six other babies, between June 2015 and June 2016 (Court of Appeal summary, BBC). She was acquitted on two counts, and the jury could not agree on six others. On Aug. 21, 2023, Mr Justice Goss imposed a whole-life order on each count (sentencing remarks, Reuters). Prosecutors alleged she harmed babies by methods including injecting air and insulin.

In July 2024 the Court of Appeal refused her permission to appeal the 2023 convictions, including a bid to admit fresh evidence from neonatologist Dr Shoo Lee (judgment). The same month a retrial jury convicted her of one further attempted murder, and in October 2024 the Court of Appeal refused leave to appeal that conviction too (judgment). The babies are anonymised by court order and Mediajury does not identify them.

Where things stand (as of Oct 18, 2026)

• Expert panel. In February 2025 an international panel convened by Dr Lee reported that it found no medical evidence to support the convictions, attributing the deaths and collapses to natural causes or poor care (Guardian). The panel's findings were sent to the Criminal Cases Review Commission.
• CCRC. The Commission's review of Letby's application is still under way. Its published statement records further submissions received as late as January 2026. No decision on whether to refer the case to the Court of Appeal has been announced.
• No further charges. In January 2026 the CPS decided not to charge Letby over further allegations, saying the evidential test was not met (CPS, BBC). After families sought a review, the CPS upheld that decision in August 2026 (CPS).
• Thirlwall Inquiry. The public inquiry's report, published Sept. 15, 2026, found a "complete failure" to protect babies and severe failings by hospital management, including missed chances to act on an insulin test result and delays in contacting police (summary report, BBC). Lady Justice Thirlwall stated that her focus was not on Letby's guilt or her convictions.

Key claims on trial

• Letby murdered seven babies and attempted to murder others. (prosecution, courts). Verified as the legal position. This is what juries found and what the Court of Appeal declined to disturb. It remains the law unless the CCRC refers the case and the Court of Appeal quashes the convictions.
• There was no medical evidence of deliberate harm. (international expert panel, Letby supporters). Disputed. This is the panel's conclusion. It has not been tested in court, and the Court of Appeal in 2024 rejected Dr Lee's earlier fresh evidence. The panel was convened at the suggestion of Dr Lee, who had given evidence for Letby's appeal, and its summary report is published on a campaign website.
• Two babies were deliberately poisoned with insulin. (prosecution). Disputed. The trial evidence rested on blood test results showing high insulin with low C-peptide. Some experts argue the type of test used needs confirmatory analysis before drawing that conclusion (Guardian, BBC). The jury accepted the prosecution case, and the Thirlwall report treats a missed insulin result as a key failure.
• Her handwritten notes, including "I am evil I did this," were a confession. (prosecution, many commentators). Disputed. The notes were put before the jury. The Guardian later reported that they were written on the advice of counsellors, and the same notes contain statements of innocence and distress (Guardian). Their meaning was for the jury.
• Statistical reasoning about her presence on shifts was misleading. (critics). Disputed. Critics argue the case resembled past wrongful convictions built on coincidence of presence. The jury heard clinical evidence about each baby as well as evidence about who was on shift. No court has ruled the shift evidence improper.
• Poor care and hospital failings explain the deaths. (Letby supporters). Unverified. Thirlwall documented serious management failures but did not find that they, rather than Letby, caused the harm. The inquiry expressly did not address guilt.
• The CCRC will refer the case back to the Court of Appeal. (Letby supporters). Pending. No decision has been announced.

What is still unknown

Whether and when the CCRC will decide, and whether it will commission its own expert evidence. Whether any new medical analysis would be admitted by the Court of Appeal, which applies strict tests to fresh evidence. Whether the families and the wider public will accept the outcome either way.

Source notes

Court judgments, CPS statements, the CCRC statement and the Thirlwall report are primary sources. The international panel's summary report is hosted on lucyletbyinnocence.com, a campaign website, and is cited only as a record of what the panel said. Many websites presenting "facts" about the case are run by campaigners on one side or the other and are not relied on here. Several details, including the January 2026 CPS decision and parts of the evidence debate, were confirmed from search excerpts rather than full pages. The Guardian and BBC pieces on the evidence debate report the views of critics and should not be read as findings.

Sources

• BBC: Letby to spend rest of life in prison (Aug. 2023)
• Sentencing remarks, Mr Justice Goss
• Reuters: Letby jailed for life
• Court of Appeal judgment, July 2024
• Court of Appeal judgment, Oct. 2024
• Guardian: expert panel finds no medical evidence
• International expert panel summary report (campaign-hosted)
• CCRC: Chair's statement on review
• CPS: no further charges (Jan. 2026)
• CPS: decision not to charge upheld (Aug. 2026)
• BBC: Letby will not face further charges
• Thirlwall Inquiry summary report
• GOV.UK: Thirlwall Inquiry report
• BBC: key findings of the Thirlwall Inquiry
• Guardian: the notes were written on counsellors' advice
• Guardian: why some experts question the evidence
• BBC: questions grow over convictions

Lead image: Lucy Letby in a police custody photograph. Photo: Cheshire Constabulary/AP, via The Guardian.