'You'll never guess what just happened': Letby told colleague after murdering premature baby at Chester hospital

From the Newshound archive · first published 19 September 2026.

The Thirlwall Inquiry report has revealed that Lucy Letby greeted an incoming night nurse with a gleeful remark moments after murdering Child P, a premature baby she had attacked twice that night. Deputy ward manager Nicola Lightfoot said Letby treated the death as though it were an "exciting event", a reaction the report described as showing "disturbing behaviour which echoes Letby's enjoyment of dealing with arrangements for babies after death." Child P died on 24 June 2016, a day after Letby had murdered Child O, his triplet brother. The report, making 14 recommendations, found a "complete failure to protect babies" and blamed "dysfunctional management and governance."

Lady Justice Thirlwall found that some of Letby's victims could have been saved had hospital managers acted sooner on consultants' concerns.

Letby also prepared a 'cold cot' — used to preserve a baby's body after death — while the infant was still alive.

Former chief executive Dr Susan Gilby said she was "astonished" to find staff "quite relaxed" weeks after Letby's arrest, with a prevailing view that the police investigation would "not lead anywhere."