BREAKING: The trial of two retired police officers and an ex-solicitor over their actions after the Hillsborough disaster has collapsed. The jury has been told to acquit Peter Metcalf, Alan Foster and Donald Denton. The CPS has said it will not appeal the judge's decision.
The judge, William Davis, has ruled that there is no case to answer.
He has ordered the jury to acquit the 3 defendants
One family member, Chrissie Burke called out to the jury "the families are heartbroken"
Defence teams outside court are talking about “the myth of the Hillsborough coverup”
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Lucy Letby trial: The nurse is starting her 13th day in the witness box. She's still being cross examined by Nick Johnson KC. He starts today by asking about the next baby - baby O. (Babies O and P were two of three triplet brothers. Lucy Letby denies murdering them both)
Lucy Letby agrees that it was "big news" on the neonatal unit when the triplets were born. The first time she'd ever come across naturally conceived triplets in her career.
Lucy Letby was on holiday in Ibiza when the triplets were born. She texted another nurse about her return to work after the holiday saying she'd “probably be back in with a bang”. Nick Johnson KC says "within 72 hours of that text, babies O and P both died and baby Q collapsed".
Lucy Letby trial: the case is continuing. The nurse is beginning her 12th day in the witness box, and is still being cross-examined by prosecution lead Nick Johnson KC. He's now asking her about babies L & M - twin boys - who Lucy Letby denies trying to kill in April 2016.
Lucy Letby is wearing a black pinstripe suit. She's flanked in the witness box by two female prison officers who sit at either side. She's looking straight ahead of her, towards the jury, and not at Nick Johnson who's asking her questions. She's speaking softly.
It's alleged that Lucy Letby poisoned one twin (baby L) with insulin and injected air into the other twin (baby M).
Lucy Letby trial: the nurse is beginning her 11th day in the witness box. She continues to be questioned by prosecutor Nick Johnson KC. She's currently being asked about baby K - a little girl - who the nurse denies attempting to murder in Feb 2016.
Nick Johnson KC suggests to Lucy Letby that she has tried to create the impression that baby K was a child who habitually displaced her own breathing tube.
Lucy Letby: "No. But the tube did come out more than once"
Nick Johnson KC: "Oh it did, because on three occasions we suggest, you displaced it because you were trying to kill her".
Lucy Letby: "No"
Lucy Letby trial: After a break of 8 days, the trial is now continuing. Lucy Letby is in the witness box for the 10th day. She is still being cross-examined by lead prosecution counsel Nick Johnson KC.
Nick Johnson KC is continuing to question Lucy Letby about baby I - a little girl - who the nurse is accused of murdering in October 2015. She denies this. The prosecution allege that she tried unsuccessfully to kill the baby 3 times before succeeding on the 4th attempt.
Nick Johnson is looking at Lucy Letby's nursing notes from the occasion of the 3rd alleged attack on the baby. He compares them to other clinical records.
Lucy Letby trial: the nurse is back in the witness box, for the 9th day. Nick Johnson KC, prosecution lead counsel, is continuing to cross-examine her.
Nick Johnson KC is working through the cases of each of the 17 babies in the trial, and is currently up to baby L - a girl who it's alleged Lucy Letby attempted to murder twice in Sept 2015. She denies this - and all 22 charges on the indictment.
Nick Johnson KC is asking Lucy Letby about the first occasion when baby L collapsed, overnight on 26th Sept 2015. He suggests that "this is another occasion" where she has "deliberately misrepresented the facts" in the nursing notes for the baby. She denies this.
Lucy Letby trial: the case continues, with nurse Letby about to begin her 8th day in the witness box. She’ll continue to be cross examined by lead prosecution counsel Nick Johnson KC
Nick Johnson KC starts to ask about the next baby in the trial - baby E - a boy, who Lucy Letby is accused of murdering on August 4th 2015. She denies this.
Lucy Letby tells the court that "It's a contributory issue if the unit is dirty. We used to have raw sewage coming out of the sinks in nursery one (intensive care). That’s not a safe working environment, I’m not sure what impact that could have on a poorly baby".