Lucy Letby: police to investigate trust for corporate manslaughter
Posted 04 October 2023 - 13:22
Cheshire Constabulary will ‘consider areas including senior leadership and decision-making to determine whether any criminality has taken place’
Police have launched a corporate manslaughter investigation into the Countess of Chester Hospital following the conviction of nurse Lucy Letby.
Cheshire Constabulary announced today that the force is looking into whether any criminality took place at the trust during the period of June 2015 and June 2016, when Letby murdered seven babies and attempted to murder six others while working on the neonatal unit.
Details of investigation
Strategic lead for Operation Hummingbird, detective superintendent Simon Blackwell, said: ‘Following the lengthy trial, subsequent conviction of Lucy Letby and an assessment by senior investigative officers, I can confirm that Cheshire Constabulary is carrying out an investigation into corporate manslaughter at the Countess of Chester Hospital.
‘The investigation will focus on the indictment period of the charges for Lucy Letby, from June 2015 to June 2016, and consider areas including senior leadership and decision-making to determine whether any criminality has taken place.
‘At this stage we are not investigating any individuals in relation to gross negligence manslaughter.’
Letby faces retrial – and appeals against convictions
Last month the Crown Prosecution Service confirmed it will be seeking a retrial for one charge relating to the attempted murder of a baby girl, known as Child K.
It came after the jury at her trial at Manchester Crown Court could not reach verdicts on six counts of attempted murder in relation to five children. The retrial is expected to take place in June 2024.
Letby has launched an appeal against her convictions.
Police working closely with families affected
DS Blackwell added in a statement: ‘The investigation is in the very early stages and we are unable to go into any further details or answer specific questions at this time.
‘We recognise that this investigation will have a significant impact on a number of different stakeholders, including the families in this case, and we are continuing to work alongside and support them during this process.
‘You will be notified of any further updates in due course.’
Trust will ‘cooperate fully’ with police
Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust’s acting CEO Jane Tomkinson said: ‘We were deeply saddened and appalled at Lucy Letby’s crimes when the verdicts were delivered.
‘Following the trial we have always maintained we will be supporting the ongoing investigation by Cheshire police and will be cooperating fully with the investigation announced today so that we can help get the answers that the families and babies affected by this case rightly deserve.
‘Cheshire police have given us their assurance that they are providing ongoing support to the families, who remain at the forefront of our thoughts and efforts to support this investigation. It would not be appropriate for the trust to make any further comment at this time.’
Read more about the Letby case
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