Inquest Proceedings Begin
HM Senior Coroner for Cheshire, Jacqueline Devonish, has formally opened an inquest into the death of Dr. Mark Deakin, a 53-year-old consultant paediatrician, as reported by AOL. Dr. Deakin, who was previously granted lifetime anonymity for his role in the trial of serial child killer nurse Lucy Letby, was found collapsed in his vehicle on June 24 and died at Whiston Hospital on July 3.
During a hearing at Cheshire Coroner’s Court on Wednesday, coroner’s officer Amanda Edgar confirmed that the investigation into the death is proceeding because there is reason to suspect the circumstances were “unnatural,” according to BBC reporting. A pre-inquest review is scheduled for January 22, with the full inquest set to take place on February 23 and 24, 2027.
Context of the Letby Trial
Dr. Deakin became a prominent figure during the trial of Lucy Letby at Manchester Crown Court. Letby, who is serving 15 whole-life terms for the murders of seven babies and the attempted murders of seven others at the Countess of Chester Hospital, had notes at her home referencing a man she described as a “trusted friend.” While prosecutors suggested Deakin was her “boyfriend,” Letby denied this, and Deakin was never explicitly asked under oath about the nature of their relationship.
During the trial, Deakin testified from behind a screen. He later told the Thirlwall Inquiry—which is investigating the systemic failures surrounding Letby’s crimes—that he felt he had been “misled and maybe manipulated” into providing information to Letby regarding her victims.
Employment and Disciplinary Concerns
Evidence presented indicates that Dr. Deakin was dismissed for gross misconduct from his position on June 23, the day before he was found collapsed. His professional conduct had previously come under scrutiny; a mother of one of Letby’s victims filed a complaint against him with the Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, alleging he shared confidential medical information with Letby. The Trust had been conducting an investigation into his knowledge of Letby’s actions during her visits to their hospital.