The coroner's inquiry into the tragic deaths of five newborns, for which Lucy Letby has been found guilty of murder, has officially commenced.
In a brief hearing lasting approximately 20 minutes at the Cheshire coroner's court, senior coroner Jacqueline Devonish reviewed initial details surrounding the infants' deaths before deciding to pause the proceedings until September.
Detective Inspector Darren Reid from the coroner’s office confirmed that an inquest was essential due to "reason to suspect an unnatural death" concerning the infants, referred to as Babies C, E, I, O, and P, who died at the Countess of Chester hospital.
Letby, now 36 years old, is currently serving a life sentence with no possibility of parole after being convicted of murdering seven infants and attempting to murder another seven in the period leading up to June 2016. Despite her conviction, the former neonatal nurse from Hereford maintains her innocence, arguing that the deaths and severe illnesses of the babies were attributable to inadequate care and staffing issues within the hospital. According to the Coroners and Justice Act of 2009, the findings of a coroner’s inquest must align with any murder convictions already determined in criminal trials.
At a recent hearing in Warrington, Letby's attorney, Mark McDonald, emphasized that the inquests should not serve as a platform to challenge the convictions. Nonetheless, he insisted it was crucial for the coroner to gain insight into the
