Where is Lucy Letby now? Trial, sentencing and appeals explained

Netflix revealed plans earlier in 2024 for a documentary focusing on Lucy Letby, a former nurse convicted of murdering a large number of babies – making her the most prolific child serial killer in recent British history.

This full-length documentary is now streaming on Netflix and features footage and interviews you won’t find anywhere else, with exclusive access to the people involved.

The documentary includes interviews with the detectives who investigated the case, the families affected, the doctors who first noticed something was wrong, and legal and medical professionals who have examined the evidence. This offers a complete picture of one of Britain’s most well-known crimes.

Now that the story is available on Netflix, here’s an update on Lucy Letby’s convictions and what’s happening with her appeal.

Did Lucy Letby plead guilty?

In October 2021, Lucy Letby denied any wrongdoing, entering a not guilty plea to charges of murdering eight babies and attempting to murder ten more.

Lucy Letby pleaded not guilty to all charges during a hearing at Manchester Crown Court, repeating the denial 18 times as each charge was presented, according to ITV News.

What was Lucy Letby convicted of?

In August 2023, Letby was convicted of murdering seven newborn babies and attempting to murder six others.

The jury cleared Letby of two attempted murder charges, but they were unable to decide on six other charges.

She received a life sentence for each crime she committed. After a recent retrial, she was given yet another life sentence, bringing the total to 15 life sentences.

Will Lucy Letby’s case be appealed?

Since being found guilty in 2023, Letby has tried to appeal her convictions. She first requested permission to appeal in September 2023, but it was denied.

As a real cinema devotee, I’ve been following the Lucy Letby case closely. I recently learned that the Criminal Cases Review Commission received an application regarding her case back in February 2025, but they haven’t made any decisions on it yet. It’s a waiting game at this point, and I’m eager to see what they decide.

As a critic, I’ve been following the Lucy Letby case with a heavy heart, and I’ve noticed a lot of discussion – and frankly, a lot of incomplete information – circulating. The Countess of Chester Hospital trust has understandably asked the public to remember the families who were so deeply impacted by the events between June 2015 and June 2016. It’s a crucial reminder that beyond the legal proceedings, there are real people grieving, and their pain deserves our utmost respect and consideration.

We’ve received an initial application regarding the case of Ms. Letby, and our team has started reviewing it. We expect to receive additional information soon.

The CCRC doesn’t decide if someone is innocent or guilty – that’s the court’s job. Instead, the CCRC looks into potential wrongful convictions, investigates them, and if justified, sends them to higher courts when new evidence or legal arguments suggest a conviction might be overturned or a sentence reduced.

We currently don’t know how long it will take to review this application. The trials involving Ms. Letby included a large amount of complex evidence.

The CCRC is a completely independent organization. We aren’t connected to the government, courts, police, or anyone involved in the cases we review. This independence allows us to investigate potential wrongful convictions fairly and without bias.