British prosecutors have declared that Lucy Letby, already serving life sentences for the murder of infants, will face no further criminal charges related to additional deaths and non-fatal collapses of babies at hospitals where she worked. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) concluded that the evidence against her in newly reviewed cases did not meet the legal standard needed to pursue further charges.
CPS Review Finds Insufficient Evidence for New Charges
The CPS announcement on January 20, 2026, confirmed that no fresh charges of murder or attempted murder will be brought against Letby after a thorough review of evidence submitted by police. Prosecutors examined allegations involving 11 potential offences linked to nine babies from incidents at the Countess of Chester Hospital and Liverpool Women’s Hospital. The evidential test required for prosecution was not met in any of these cases, the CPS said.
Frank Ferguson, head of the CPS’s Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, emphasized that the decision was independent and based strictly on whether there was a realistic prospect of conviction in a court of law. Prosecutors also reached out to affected families to explain the rationale behind their decision.
Letby’s Convictions Unchanged; Police Reaction Mixed
Lucy Letby, 36, is currently serving whole-life sentences for the murders of seven infants and the attempted murders of additional newborns during her time as a neonatal nurse between 2015 and 2016. These convictions followed extensive trials and remain in force.
Cheshire Police, which led the investigations and submitted evidence for possible new charges, expressed disappointment in the CPS decision, insisting they believed the information provided met prosecutorial standards. Officers acknowledged the ruling does not affect Letby’s existing convictions but reiterated their commitment to continued reviews where appropriate.
Her legal team continues to pursue an appeal, with an application under review by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), which could potentially refer aspects of the case back to the Court of Appeal.
Hospital Investigations and Wider Inquiry Continue
Separately from decisions about Letby’s criminal liability, investigations into possible corporate manslaughter or gross negligence at the Countess of Chester Hospital remain active. Several senior hospital managers have been arrested and released on bail as part of these wide-ranging inquiries into medical care standards and institutional responsibilities. A public inquiry into the broader circumstances of Letby’s crimes and hospital practices is also expected to publish findings later this year.
