Lucy Letby: Nurse in court accused of murdering eight babies

NHS hospital nurse to stand trial accused of killing five boys and three girls between 2015 and 2016

A nurse accused of murdering eight babies in an alleged year-long killing spree at an NHS hospital has appeared in court.

Lucy Letby, aged 31, appeared at Manchester Crown Court via videolink from HMP Peterborough on Monday morning.

She has been charged the murder of five boys and three girls at the neonatal unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital.

The babies all died between June 2015 and June 2016.

Ms Letby, who wore a dark shirt, blue jeans and had shoulder-length dark hair at the hearing, spoke only to confirm her name and that she could hear the proceedings.

The nurse, of Arran Avenue, Hereford, was arrested in 2018 and 2019 as part of a police investigation into the hospital which began in 2017.

The 25-minute hearing on Monday dealt with administrative and case management matters ahead of a trial next year.

Mr Justice Dove adjourned proceedings until a further case management hearing at the same court on 17 May.

The defendant remains in custody.