Children's nurse Lucy Letby, 32, appears in court as she faces trial accused of murdering seven babies

Rebecca Hutson

By Rebecca Hutson


Published: 04/10/2022

- 15:30

Updated: 14/02/2023

- 10:37

Lucy Letby, 32, faces charges that she murdered five boys and two girls.

A nurse has gone on trial today accused of multiple baby murders and trying to kill ten more in a year while working in an NHS neonatal unit.

Lucy Letby, 32, faces charges that she murdered five boys and two girls, and attempted to murder another five boys and five girls, between June 2015 and June 2016.


Letby, of Arran Avenue, Hereford, is said to have gone on a year-long killing spree while working in the neonatal unit of the Countess of Chester Hospital in Chester.

She denies all the allegations.

John and Susan Letby parents of Lucy Letby arrive at Manchester Crown Court for the their daughters murder trial. She has pleaded not guilty to murdering eight babies and the attempted murder of ten babies, between June 2015 and June 2016 while working on the neonatal unit of the Countess of Chester Hospital, Chester. Picture date: Tuesday October 4, 2022.
John and Susan Letby parents of Lucy Letby arrive at Manchester Crown Court for the their daughters murder trial.
Steve Allen

The defendant, wearing a dark suit, appeared in the dock on Tuesday as unreportable legal issues were aired.

Her parents, John, 76, and Susan, 62, watched as proceedings were relayed to annexe courtrooms attended by families of the children involved and members of the press.

A court order prohibits reporting of the identities of surviving and deceased children allegedly attacked by Letby, and prohibits identifying parents or witnesses connected with the children.

The trial at Manchester Crown Court is estimated to last up to six months.

The hearing has been adjourned until Thursday when legal argument is expected to take place.