Lucy Letby public inquiry will hold first hearing this month into how serial baby-killer was able to murder infants while on duty
- Lady Justice Thirlwall confirmed the public hearing will start on May 16
The first hearing of the public inquiry investigating the crimes of serial baby killer Lucy Letby will be held this month.
Lady Justice Thirlwall, the senior judge chairing the investigation into the activities of the ex-neonatal nurse at the Countess of Chester Hospital, in Chester, Cheshire, confirmed the first public hearing will take place at Chester Racecourse on May 16.
She will hear submissions from interested parties and also give an update on work carried out by the inquiry since its launch last November.
Letby, 34, was convicted of seven counts of murder and seven of attempted murder relating to 13 victims – one of the babies she tried to kill twice – at Manchester Crown Court in August.
The inquiry was set up in the aftermath of her convictions to examine how the nurse was able to kill the babies while on duty. It will also look at how the NHS handled the case and its response to doctors who raised concerns.
Lucy Letby, 34, was convicted of seven counts of murder and seven of attempted murder relating to 13 victims – one of the babies she tried to kill twice
Lady Justice Thirlwall (pictured), the senior judge chairing the investigation into the activities of the ex-neonatal nurse confirmed the first public hearing will take place on May 16
The killer nurse was working at the Countess of Chester Hospital, in Chester, Cheshire, between June 2015 and June 2016
Formally opening the inquiry last year, Lady Justice Thirlwall said: 'The parents of the babies who were murdered or suffered injuries, some life-long, live with the consequences every day.
'On top of their grievous loss, they endured years of uncertainty about what had caused death or injury. For some, uncertainty remains.
'All have made it plain to me that they want to do all they can to make sure no one else suffers as they do.'
She said the inquiry would be 'searching and active' and would look for necessary changes to be made to the system of neonatal care 'in real time and at the earliest opportunity, avoiding delays in making meaningful change'.
It is a statutory inquiry which means it will have powers to compel witnesses to give evidence and is due to focus on three key areas - the experiences of the babies' parents; the conduct of those working at the hospital, including the board, managers, doctors, nurses and midwives and the effectiveness of NHS management and governance structures, as well as external scrutiny and professional regulation.
Letby was sentenced to 14 whole life tariffs for each guilty count, meaning she will die in jail and has no prospect of parole.
Trial judge Mr Justice Goss said she had been responsible for a 'cruel, calculated and cynical campaign of child murder' between June 2015 and June 2016.
Letby posing with a baby. The inquiry will look at how the NHS handled the case and its response to doctors who raised concerns
This is the moment Letby was arrested and led out of her home by police for the murders of babies at the hospital where she worked
Letby applied for leave to appeal against her convictions soon after the guilty verdicts last year.
Her initial bid before a single judge failed but a panel of three judges is currently considering whether to grant her permission after she re-applied via her lawyers last week.
They reserved their judgement but if they refuse it will mark the end of the appeal process for her.
Letby, formerly of Hereford, is due to face a retrial in June on a single count that she attempted to murder a baby girl, known as Child K, in February 2016.
A court order prohibits reporting of the identities of the surviving and dead children who were the subject of the allegations.
