Inquests open into babies killed by Lucy Letby

Inquests into the deaths of five babies murdered by Lucy Letby at The Countess of Chester Hospital have been opened and adjourned.

Letby is serving 15 whole life prison terms for murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others - including one she tried to kill on two occasions - at the hospital in 2015 and 2016.

The hearing at Cheshire Coroner's Court in Warrington related to four boys and one girl whose inquests had not been opened before.

An inquest into the death of a sixth baby girl, whom Letby was not convicted of murdering but whose case was suspended during the criminal investigation, was also re-opened and adjourned today.

A court ruling means none of Letby's victims can be named.

They were identified during Letby's trial as babies C, E, I, O and P, while the baby she was not convicted of killing was known as Baby D.

Coroner's officer Darren Reid read out the details of how and when the five babies had died and how efforts had been made to resuscitate them.

In each case he also stated that Letby had been convicted of their murder in August 2023.

Mr Reid said in each case "there is reason to suspect an unnatural death."

The court heard an inquest into the death of a seventh baby, known as A, was held in October 2016.

It concluded it could not be determined what caused his collapse or whether it was due to an unnatural event.

But it was said that Baby A's family did not want his inquest re-opened.

The senior coroner for Cheshire, Jacqueline Devonish, suspended the inquests until May this year because of the Thirlwall Public Inquiry into Letby's crimes and the circumstances around them.

Coroner's officer Det Insp Darren Reid read out the details of how and when the five babies had died and how efforts had been made to resuscitate them.

In each case he also stated that Letby had been convicted of their murder in August 2023.

Mr Reid said in each case "there is reason to suspect an unnatural death."

Letby has been granted interested party status in the inquests and is represented by her barrister Mark McDonald.

Inquiry chair Lady Justice Thirwall, who listened to months of evidence at Liverpool Town Hall, is due to publish her report after Easter.

The inquests are due to resume between September 14 and 25 this year.

Last month, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announced it would not bring further charges against Letby.

Cheshire Police had submitted files of evidence to consider alleged offences of murder and attempted murder related to two infants who died and seven who survived.

However, CPS chiefs concluded the evidential test was not met in any of the cases.