Prosecutors had been considering bringing further charges against Letby following the deaths and non-fatal collapses of babies at hospitals where she worked.
Killer nurse Lucy Letby will not face further charges. The Crown Prosecution Service previously confirmed it had received evidence from Cheshire Police regarding alleged incidents at the Countess of Chester Hospital and Liverpool Women’s Hospital.
Former neonatal nurse Letby, 35, is serving 15 life sentences for murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others – one of whom on two occasions – at the Countess of Chester Hospital between 2015 and 2016.
Cheshire Police had been investigating other incidents going back to 2012, covering Letby’s career and training in Liverpool.
The CPS said on Tuesday it had considered two murder charges and nine attempted murder charges over alleged attacks on two babies that died and seven that survived.
Cheshire Police said it was “not the outcome we anticipated”, adding: “We believed the evidence submitted met the CPS charging standard.”
Frank Ferguson, Head of the Crown Prosecution Service’s Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said: “We received a file of evidence from Cheshire Constabulary in July 2025 asking us to consider further allegations against Lucy Letby, 36, relating to deaths and non-fatal collapses of babies at the Countess of Chester Hospital and Liverpool Women’s Hospital.
“Following a thorough review of that evidence, we have decided that no criminal charges should be brought in respect of those further allegations.
“The Crown Prosecution Service considered offences of murder and attempted murder in respect of two infants who died and attempted murder in respect of seven infants who survived.
“We concluded that the evidential test was not met in any of those cases.
“As always, this decision was made independently, based on the evidence and in line with our legal test.
“The CPS has written to the families involved and will offer meetings to explain our decision-making in further detail. Our thoughts remain with them.”
The CPS previously confirmed it had received evidence from Cheshire Police regarding alleged incidents at the Countess of Chester Hospital and Liverpool Women’s Hospital.
Former neonatal nurse Letby, 35, is serving 15 life sentences for murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others at the Countess of Chester Hospital between 2015 and 2016.
Cheshire Police has been investigating other incidents going back to 2012, covering Letby’s career and training in Liverpool.
The investigation, codenamed Operation Hummingbird, was set up after hospital bosses contacted the force in May 2017 over an unexplained rise in incidents in the Countess of Chester’s neonatal unit.
The Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Parkinson and Attorney General Lord Hermer KC, were reportedly involved in the decision-making process.
Cheshire Police said in a statement: “This is not the outcome that we had anticipated throughout our investigation; we were confident that we held enough evidence to take to the CPS. We submitted files for charging decisions in relation to nine babies – for consideration of nine offences of attempted murder and two of murder.
“We believed the evidence submitted met the CPS charging standard. The CPS did not agree and despite our representations we must respect the decision that has been made.
“There will be some who will feel that this is news worth celebrating. We do not share this view and would ask that people respect the privacy and feelings of the families involved.
“We are deeply grateful to the experts and witnesses who have contributed to this investigation. “Their input has been invaluable in answering many difficult questions on behalf of the families.
“Today’s announcement does not affect or undermine the convictions of Lucy Letby for multiple murders and attempted murders of premature babies following an extensive investigation and two criminal trials, including one of the longest running murder trials in British criminal history and two unsuccessful appeals.
“This decision by the CPS will have no impact on Operation Duet – our ongoing investigation into corporate manslaughter and gross negligence manslaughter at the Countess of Chester Hospital. These remain separate investigations.
“Our thoughts remain with the families affected by this.”
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