Police have confirmed they are launching an investigation into corporate manslaughter in relation to the Countess of Chester hospital in Cheshire, where Lucy Lety murdered seven babies and tried to kill six more.
In a statement issued this afternoon, Detective Superintendent Simon Blackwell, who is strategic lead for Operation Hummingbird, 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.
“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.”
Det Supt Blackwell added: “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.”
Lucy Letby committed her crimes between 2015 and 2016, when she was employed as a neonatal nurse at the Cheshire hospital.
After the verdict, there was widespread speculation that the police could launch a probe into how she was able to continue harming babies for so long.
Slater and Gordon, the legal firm acting on behalf of the parents of some of the children, has previously claimed they were “fobbed off” by the hospital.
Passing sentence, Passing sentence, Mr Justice James Ross told Letby: “You acted in a way that was completely contrary to the normal human instincts of nurturing and caring for babies and in gross breach of the trust that all citizens place in those who work in the medical and caring professions.
“The babies you harmed were born prematurely and some were at risk of not surviving but in each case you deliberately harmed them, intending to kill them.
“There was premeditation, calculation and cunning in your actions. The impact of your crimes has been immense.
“Loving parents have been robbed of their cherished children.
“There was a malevolence bordering on sadism in your actions. During the course of this trial you have coldly denied any responsibility for your wrongdoing. You have no remorse. There are no mitigating factors.”
Letby was handed a whole-life sentence, meaning she will never be released – although she is to retried on one count of attempted murder for which she was convicted.
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