A doctor who developed a close relationship with Lucy Letby and later gave evidence about their interactions has died in his 50s.
The married physician was protected by anonymity during proceedings. He was referred to as Doctor A in coverage of Letby’s criminal trial and as Dr U during the subsequent Thirlwall Inquiry.
The Sun reported that the doctor had been ill before his death and died approximately one month before the news became public. His specific illness and cause of death have not been disclosed.
His relationship with Letby became a significant part of both her trial and the public inquiry into events at the Countess of Chester Hospital, where he worked as a pediatric registrar while she was a neonatal nurse.
Letby Denied That the Doctor Was Her Boyfriend
At the Thirlwall Inquiry, counsel said the pair exchanged 1,355 Facebook messages beginning in June 2016. Their conversations ranged from casual exchanges to discussions about babies being treated on the neonatal unit.
Prosecutors examined the relationship during Letby’s trial and suggested that she had romantic feelings for the doctor. Letby denied that he was her boyfriend and said she loved him as a friend. Reports about the doctor’s death have continued to describe him using the anonymous labels imposed during the legal proceedings.
The Doctor Later Said He Had Been ‘Misled and Maybe Manipulated’
The doctor gave evidence during Letby’s criminal proceedings and later appeared before the Thirlwall Inquiry, where he was questioned about the information he had shared with her.
According to The Guardian’s inquiry coverage, Dr U acknowledged providing Letby with confidential information about efforts to investigate unexplained deaths and collapses on the neonatal unit.
He said he had wanted to reassure her at the time but later regarded sharing the information as a “massive mistake.” “I provided support by being misled and maybe manipulated,” he told the inquiry, adding that he had significant regrets about what happened.
The inquiry also heard that he arranged a temporary placement for Letby at another hospital in 2017, after she had already been removed from frontline duties at the Countess of Chester.
Few Details About the Doctor’s Death Have Been Released
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The Sun reported that the physician had been ill before his death and was in his 50s. The nature of the illness was not disclosed.
His identity also remains protected in current reporting. The unusual anonymity orders surrounding Letby’s case covered several medical professionals who gave evidence during the proceedings.
The CCRC Is Still Reviewing Letby’s Convictions
Letby was convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others at the Countess of Chester Hospital. She is serving 15 whole-life orders and continues to maintain her innocence.
Her lawyers applied to the Criminal Cases Review Commission to have her case reconsidered after her attempts to appeal through the courts were unsuccessful. The CCRC confirmed in February 2026 that its review of Letby’s convictions was underway.