A doctor anonymised as "Doctor A" in court and later as "Dr U" at the Thirlwall Inquiry has died in his 50s after a period of illness, reports say. He developed a close relationship with Lucy Letby while both worked at the Countess of Chester Hospital and subsequently gave evidence about their interactions. At the inquiry he admitted sharing confidential information with Letby and described the decision as a "massive mistake," and the panel heard they exchanged 1,355 Facebook messages beginning in June 2016. Letby remains convicted of multiple murders and the CCRC confirmed a review of her convictions in February 2026.
Anonymised Doctor Who Testified In Lucy Letby Case Dies In His 50s
Image Credit: casefiledaily1/ Instagram
A doctor who developed a close relationship with Lucy Letby and later gave evidence about their interactions has died in his 50s, UK media report. The married physician — granted anonymity during legal proceedings — was referenced as "Doctor A" at Letby’s criminal trial and as "Dr U" during the Thirlwall Inquiry.
News outlets including The Sun reported the doctor had been unwell before his death and that his passing occurred roughly a month before it became public. No official cause of death or further medical details have been disclosed.
Role In Trial And Inquiry
The doctor’s relationship with Letby became a prominent part of both the trial and the subsequent public inquiry into events at the Countess of Chester Hospital. At the time, he worked as a paediatric registrar while Letby was a neonatal nurse.
At the Thirlwall Inquiry, counsel told the panel the pair exchanged 1,355 Facebook messages beginning in June 2016. Those messages, the inquiry heard, ranged from casual conversation to references about babies being treated on the neonatal unit.
Admissions About Sharing Confidential Information
According to reporting of the inquiry, the doctor acknowledged providing Letby with confidential details about efforts to investigate unexplained deaths and collapses on the neonatal unit. He told the inquiry he had intended to reassure her but later regarded doing so as a "massive mistake."
"I provided support by being misled and maybe manipulated," he told the inquiry, adding that he regretted his actions.
The inquiry also heard that in 2017 he arranged a temporary placement for Letby at another hospital after she had already been removed from frontline duties at the Countess of Chester.
Anonymity And Ongoing Reporting
The doctor’s identity remains protected in current reporting under anonymity orders that covered several medical professionals who gave evidence. Contemporary coverage continues to use the anonymised labels used in court and at the inquiry.
Case Status
Lucy Letby was convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others at the Countess of Chester Hospital. She is serving multiple whole-life orders and continues to maintain her innocence. Her legal team has applied to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) for a review of her convictions, and the CCRC confirmed in February 2026 that a review is under way.
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