Nurse Lucy Letby who is accused of murdering eight babies has appeared in front of a judge in a pre-trial hearing ahead of her trial on the 4th of October.
Ms Letby, 32, denies all the murders and also denies 10 counts of attempted murder of babies during an alleged year-long killing spree while working on the neonatal unit of the Countess of Chester Hospital, Chester.
The alleged offences are said to have taken place between June 2015 and June 2016.
Court artist sketch by Elizabeth Cook of Lucy Letby, next to her solicitor Richard Thomas
Elizabeth Cook
The neonatal unit raised concerns after a high increase in the number of deaths between March 2015 and July 2016 - which were 10 per cent above average.
Letby was first detained by police back in 2018 after a spike in the number of deaths on her neonatal unit. She was also re-arrested over the same alleged offences in 2019 and 2021 as the investigation continued.
Letby spoke only to confirm her identity during the 50-minute hearing, appearing via video link from a room at HMP Bronzefield in Ashford, Surrey.
Around a dozen family members of the victims appeared to be listening to the hearing, with Judge Mr Justice Goss also appearing via video.
Ms Letby from Arran Avenue, Hereford, is accused of murdering five baby boys and three baby girls and the attempted murder of five baby boys and five baby girls.
A prison van carrying Lucy Letby leaves Chester Crown Court after she appeared charged with the murder of eight babies and the attempted murder of 10 others
Peter Byrne
The identities of the victims and the surviving victims cannot be reported due to a court order and prohibits identifying the parents or witnesses connected with the children.
Two further pre-trial hearings were set for April and June or July later this year.
Yesterday's hearing dealt with arrangements ahead of Letby’s trial at Manchester Crown Court, due to start on October 4 and scheduled to last six months.
Two further pre-trial hearings were set for April and June or July later this year.
Mr Justice Goss remanded Letby into custody until the next hearing.
Letby has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
