STAFF at the hospital where Lucy Letby murdered babies could face prosecution in connection with their deaths.
Police announced today they had widened the scope of their investigation to include gross negligence manslaughter for staff at the Countess of Chester Hospital.
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Letby, 35, is serving 15 whole-life orders after she was convicted of killing seven babies and attempting to murder seven others between June 2015 and June 2016.
Detective Superintendent Paul Hughes, Senior Investigating Officer for Operation Hummingbird, which is looking into the deaths of the babies, said Cheshire Constabulary had widened its probe.
In a statement, he said: “In October 2023 following the lengthy trial and subsequent conviction of Lucy Letby, Cheshire Constabulary launched an investigation into corporate manslaughter at the Countess of Chester Hospital.
“This focuses on senior leadership and their decision making to determine whether any criminality has taken place concerning the response to the increased levels of fatalities.
“As our enquiries have continued, the scope of the investigation has now widened to also include gross negligence manslaughter.”
He added that these offences were separate to corporate manslaughter and instead focused on the negligence or inaction of staff.
Det Supt Hughes explained: “This is a separate offence to corporate manslaughter and focuses on the grossly negligent action or inaction of individuals.
“It is important to note that this does not impact on the convictions of Lucy Letby for multiple offences of murder and attempted murder.
“Those identified as suspects have been notified.”
He added that the number of people involved would not be confirmed and said that no arrests or charges have yet been made.
There are no set timescales for how long the investigations into both corporate manslaughter and gross negligence manslaughter will go on for.
Det Supt Hughes added: “Our investigation into the deaths and non-fatal collapses of babies at the neo-natal units of both the Countess of Chester Hospital and the Liverpool Women’s Hospital between the period of 2012 to 2016 is also ongoing.
“Our priority is to maintain the integrity of our ongoing investigations and to support the many families who are at the heart of these.”
Just last month, a “blue riband committee” of 14 neonatologists claimed they found “no murders” after going through the evidence at a press conference in London.
Lawyers for Letby revealed before the hearing that they have submitted an application to the independent Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) citing a miscarriage of justice.
The CCRC is investigating whether the case should be sent to the Court of Appeal, who are the only ones that can overturn a conviction.
PREVIOUS APPEALS FROM LETBY
The neo-natal nurse has so far lost two bids to appeal against her convictions at the court.
Her latest in October was over her most recent conviction for the attempted murder of a baby girl.
The killer declared “I’m innocent” as she was handed another life order in July after the retrial.
Jurors heard how she tried to kill Baby K by dislodging her breathing tube less than two hours after she was born.
Baby K was transported to Arrowe Park Hospital and sadly died three days later – although prosecutors do not believe the nurse caused her death.
Letby became only the fourth woman ever to be handed whole life tariff after Rose West, Joanna Dennehy and Myra Hindley when she was sentenced.
She was originally convicted of seven counts of murder in August 2023 following a nine-month trial and 22 days of jury deliberation.
During her trial, prosecutors argued the collapses and deaths of the children were not “naturally-occurring tragedies” and instead the gruesome work of “poisoner” Letby.
Her rampage was finally uncovered after staff grew suspicious of the “significant rise” in the number of babies dying or suffering “catastrophic” collapses.
Letby was found to be the “common denominator” among the horrifying incidents.
