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.
Medical explainer
Sudden deterioration in preterm and unstable babies has a broad natural-cause differential. UK neonatal guidance treats unexpected collapse as a clinical emergency with several routine explanations before any unnatural cause is considered.
The Letby prosecution proposed deliberate-harm mechanisms for a series of collapses. The post-conviction expert evidence argues the natural differential was not adequately worked through count by count. The Shoo Lee Panel's case-by-case review identified natural-cause explanations for every count reviewed.
Panel members and named independent neonatologists have published natural-cause readings for each indicted case, addressing sepsis, NEC, twin-twin transfusion syndrome, intrahepatic catheter complications, ventilation events and prematurity-related instability.
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