The Crown Prosecution Service has decided not to bring additional criminal charges against Lucy Letby in relation to allegations involving nine further babies, despite Cheshire Police expressing they were “confident” the evidence met charging standards.
Frank Ferguson, head of the CPS’s special crime and counter terrorism division, confirmed the decision following a thorough review of evidence submitted by police in July 2025. The review concerned allegations of murder and attempted murder 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,” Mr Ferguson stated. He added that the CPS has written to the families involved and will offer meetings to explain the decision.
The 36-year-old former nurse currently serves 15 whole-life terms for murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven more between June 2015 and June 2016. The CPS emphasised that this latest announcement does not affect or undermine Letby’s existing convictions, which followed an extensive investigation and two criminal trials, including one of the longest running murder trials in British criminal history.
Cheshire Police said the decision was “not the outcome that we had anticipated” and noted they had made representations to the CPS about the evidence. The force added: “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.”
According to Tamlin Bolton, a solicitor from Irwin Mitchell law firm representing some families, those affected by Letby’s original crimes continue to suffer. “The impact of her actions can never be underestimated and will have a life-long effect on our clients,” she said. “There may well be other families upset at today’s decision.”
The decision has no impact on Operation Duet, Cheshire Police’s ongoing investigation into corporate manslaughter and gross negligence manslaughter at Countess of Chester Hospital.
Meanwhile, a campaign to overturn Letby’s convictions continues. Barrister Mark McDonald, representing Letby, stated: “Lucy Letby has always maintained her innocence. She has never hurt a child and never would.” He called for the case to be referred back to the Court of Appeal as a matter of urgency, describing the situation as “a young innocent woman in prison for crimes she has not committed.”
Thirty-one reports compiled by 26 internationally renowned experts have been submitted to the Criminal Cases Review Commission. David Davis MP, Conservative MP for Goole and Pocklington, posted on social media that the CCRC “must conclude its review quickly and refer the case to the Court of Appeal.”
