Lucy Letby: Inquiry granted legal powers following calls from shattered families
The UK health secretary has announced the inquiry into the circumstances around crimes committed by the prolific baby serial killer will become statutory.
Last month one of the most horrific murder cases came to light as Lucy Letby, a former neonatal nurse based at a hospital in Chester, became the third woman alive to be sentenced to a whole-life jail term for killing seven newborn babies and attempting to murder a further six.
Following Letby’s sentencing, an inquiry was launched to cover the broader context of events at the Countess of Chester hospital trust, including the handling of concerns raised by some health workers in the years leading up to her arrest. Governance procedures and the measures undertaken by regulators and the wider NHS are also likely to be scrutinised.
When the inquiry was first launched, it was announced it would be non-statutory, meaning witnesses could decline to give evidence, in order for a conclusion to be reached quicker. However, yesterday, Steve Barclay, the UK’s Health Secretary, claimed it will now be put on a statutory foot after victims’ families argued it was important current and former staff at the hospital in Chester could be forced to appear.
The announcement came after UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, stated judges would be granted more powers to order offenders to attend their sentence hearings. This was provoked after Mr Sunak called Letby a coward for refusing to appear in the dock.
‘The crimes committed by Lucy Letby are truly harrowing, and my thoughts remain with the families of her victims,’ Mr Barclay said. ‘Following her conviction, we announced an inquiry and said the nature of this inquiry would be shaped by the families.’
He added: ‘Having now discussed this with the families, we will launch a full statutory inquiry giving it the legal powers to compel witnesses to give evidence.
‘This statutory public inquiry will aim to give the families the answers they need and ensure lessons are learned.’
As it stands, no judge has yet been appointed for the inquiry and its terms of reference have not been finalised.
Image: Tingey Injury Law Firm
Prolific baby serial killer has been sentenced to life imprisonment