May 2026: Thirlwall Inquiry report delayed to at least September 2026 · six-baby inquests relisted to 2027 · CCRC review active · Shoo Lee Panel: no medical evidence of deliberate harm.
Coronial process
Inquests into the deaths of five babies were formally opened by HM Coroner on 4 February 2026; six-baby inquests were subsequently relisted to provisionally 10 May 2027 in the coroner’s 13 May 2026 decision. This page explains where the coronial process sits alongside the CCRC review and the Thirlwall Inquiry — three formal-record processes that all run independently of one another.
| Process | What it determines | Current status |
|---|---|---|
| Inquests (HM Coroner) | Statutory determinations of cause of death. An inquest establishes who died, when, where, and by what means. It is not a criminal trial; it cannot determine individual criminal responsibility and it cannot overturn criminal convictions. | Formally opened 4 February 2026; relisted to provisionally 10 May 2027. |
| CCRC review | Whether there is a real possibility the Court of Appeal would not uphold the convictions. The CCRC does not decide guilt or innocence; it identifies potential miscarriages of justice for appellate-court referral. | Application received 3 February 2025 (publicly announced 4 February); review active. CCRC has said the review will be lengthy. See CCRC submission timeline. |
| Thirlwall Inquiry | Statutory public inquiry into how the Countess of Chester Hospital and its regulators responded to concerns about deaths on the unit. It examines institutional conduct. It is not a criminal appeal and cannot overturn convictions. | Evidence phase concluded; final report now expected after the parliamentary summer recess (no earlier than September 2026). |
HM Coroner formally opens inquests into the deaths of five of the babies Lucy Letby was convicted of murdering. Hearings are adjourned at opening. The opening occurs on the first anniversary of the CCRC's public announcement of the application receipt (4 February 2025) and the same day Netflix releases 'The Investigation of Lucy Letby'.
HM Coroner relists the inquests into the deaths of six of the babies; full hearings originally scheduled for September 2026 will now provisionally begin on 10 May 2027, with the matter to be reviewed in November 2026. The coroner cites the Thirlwall Inquiry's own confirmation that its final report will not be published until at least September 2026, and the need for the Inquiry's findings to be fully considered before the inquests proceed.
Inquest proceedings concern the deaths of named babies whose families are entitled to dignity, anonymity and respect. This page refers to the babies only by the court-assigned codes used elsewhere on the site. Do not contact families, witnesses, jurors, coroners, clinicians or other private individuals connected to the case. See our families and witnesses sensitivity policy.