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September 2026: Thirlwall Inquiry final report published (15 September) — a complete failure to protect babies, 17 recommendations, and no finding on the guilt of Lucy Letby or her convictions · CCRC review continues · inquests relisted to 2027 · Shoo Lee Panel: no medical evidence of deliberate harm.

Lucy Letby Facts
Convicted
Murder — convicted (2023)

Child E

The prosecution’s theory: Air embolism / deliberate bleeding from NG tube.

Outcome: Died 4 August 2015

Gestation: Twin 1, male; 29+5 weeks, 1.327 kg (twin brother of Child F)

Sensitivity note: court-imposed lifelong anonymity covers every family. We use the court-assigned code only. See our families and witnesses sensitivity policy.

Verdict: Guilty, unanimousCourt finding1Court/official

Prosecution theory

Air embolism / deliberate bleeding from NG tube.

Method alleged: Air embolism with deliberate NG-tube bleeding.

Prosecution experts: Dr Dewi Evans; Dr Sandie Bohin.

Panel view (Feb 2025)

Panel: died from massive gastrointestinal haemorrhage due to either intrauterine hypoxia causing ulceration or a congenital vascular lesion. No evidence of air embolism.

Pathology

Panel conclusion: Baby 5 died from massive gastrointestinal haemorrhage due to either intrauterine hypoxia causing stomach or intestinal ulceration, or a congenital vascular lesion; emergency blood transfusion should have been given much earlier; there was no evidence of air embolism; and a post-mortem should have been requested. The Panel records that he was at high risk because he was preterm and had twin-twin transfusion with oligohydramnios.

Natural-cause alternatives identified

  • Massive gastrointestinal haemorrhage from intrauterine-hypoxia ulceration or a congenital vascular lesion — the Panel's stated cause
  • Twin-twin transfusion syndrome with oligohydramnios as a high-risk antenatal context
  • Delay in giving emergency blood transfusion

What the jury did not hear

  • The Panel's conclusion that death was from massive gastrointestinal haemorrhage, not inflicted injury or air embolism.
  • That emergency blood transfusion should have been given much earlier.
  • That no post-mortem was requested, though the Panel says one should have been.

Key primary sources

  • International Expert Panel — Additional 10 Cases report (June 2025), Panel Baby 5: https://lucyletbyinnocence.com/shoo-lee/International%20Expert%20Panel%20New%20Summary%20Report%20of%20additional%2010%20cases.pdf
  • R v Letby sentencing remarks (August 2023)
  • Panel Additional 10 Cases Report (June 2025)

Read the full long-form analysis →

Last updated

Sources:

This page uses only the court-assigned code and publicly reported facts. The court imposed lifelong anonymity on every family; this site does not contact families and does not speculate about private circumstances.