Lucy Letby: Inquiry into nurse's crime will be statutory
It will mean witnesses will be compelled to give evidence to an independent review of the case
Last updated 30th Aug 2023
The health secretary's confirmed there will now be a statutory inquiry into the murders committed by nurse Lucy Letby.
Earlier this month, the 33 year old from Hereford was found guilty of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder six others at the Countess of Chester Hospital in 2015 and 2016.
Initially the proposed investigation into what happened did not include a power to force witnesses to attend.
That's now changed after Steve Barclay spoke to the victims' families:
"We wanted to discuss the terms of the inquiry and reflected on the comments that the families of the victims have made.
"There are different ways of bringing inquiries which have advantages and disadvantages.
"It's clear that their preference is to have a statutory inquiry."
The announcement has come on the day the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has revealed a planned change in the law.
He wants to allow judges in England and Wales to force criminals to appear for sentencing, after Letby and others refused to do so.