Nurse, 30, charged with eight baby murders at neonatal unit appears in court

A nurse has appeared in court charged with the murder of eight babies over a year-long period following an investigation into infant deaths at a Cheshire hospital.

Lucy Letby, who is also charged with 10 counts of attempted murder of babies aged under one, was remanded in custody after appearing by video link at Warrington Magistrates’ Court.

It follows an investigation into the deaths in the neonatal unit at Countess of Chester Hospital, which began in 2017. The allegations are said to have taken place between June 2015 and June 2016.

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In a 10-minute hearing, Letby, of Hereford, spoke only to confirm her name, date of birth and address.

The alleged victims’ families also watched from elsewhere via video link.

District judge Nicholas Sanders said: “Today’s court hearing is for a number of matters. I won’t be taking any plea today, as I’m sure (her counsel) has discussed with you.

“These are matters allocated to the Crown Court, today is a preliminary hearing to send to the Crown Court.”

Prosecuting, Pascale Jones said: “It is the Crown’s application for these matters to be sent to the Crown court with a bail application to be determined. This court has no power to grant bail.”

“The Crown will also stress there is substantial grounds to believe for her own protection this defendant should be remanded into custody.”

District Judge Nicholas Sanders banned reporting of the surviving babies’ names.

Letby, 30, who worked at the hospital’s neonatal unit, did not enter a plea on Thursday and will appear at Chester Crown Court on Friday afternoon.

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