of pensioners. an israeli air strike hits a safe zone in southern gaza — hamas officials says more than a0 people were killed. israel said it was targeting hamas commanders directly involved in the october 7th attack. and tributes to the american actorjames earljones — voice of darth vader — who's died aged 93. hello, i'm sarah campbell. we start in liverpool — where the public inquiry into the case of serial killer lucy letby, who murdered seven babies and tried to kill seven more, is about to get under way. gfx it will look at how she was able to carry

it will look at how she was able to carry out her crimes whilst working as a neonatal nurse at the countess of chester hospital in 2015 and 2016. it will also examine how hospital managers responded to doctors who raised concerns. here's our north of england correspondentjudith moritz. let's go live to liverpool town hall where the inquiry is taking place — we can speak to my colleague nick garnett. good morning to you. just take us through this inquiry and what exactly the parameters are, what exactly will be looking at. it are, what exactly will be looking at.— looking at. it is going to answer _ looking at. it is going to answer one _ looking at. it is going to answer one simple - looking at. it is going to - answer one simple question, have — answer one simple question, have the _ answer one simple question, have the questions of lucy letby— have the questions of lucy letby been learned? the answers are going — letby been learned? the answers are going to be long and very difficult — are going to be long and very difficult for everyone involved to get — difficult for everyone involved to get through and fort lessons to get through and fort lessons to be _ to get through and fort lessons to be learned through this inquiry— to be learned through this inquiry itself. the inquiry, named _ inquiry itself. the inquiry, named after ladyjustice there well who— named after ladyjustice there well who is a senior court of appeal— well who is a senior court of appealjudge, has been set up

and will— appealjudge, has been set up and will sit until around december. in that time they are going _ december. in that time they are going to — december. in that time they are going to hear from the parents of the — going to hear from the parents of the children, the newborn children_ of the children, the newborn children that lucy letby murdered or tried to murder. they— murdered or tried to murder. they will_ murdered or tried to murder. they will also hear from medical experts, from the staff at the _ medical experts, from the staff at the hospital trust that the countess of chester hospital, to see — countess of chester hospital, to see what they learned and what — to see what they learned and what they learned and whether or hot — what they learned and whether or not anything could have been done _ or not anything could have been done to— or not anything could have been done to stop this from happening. 0r done to stop this from happening. or if not to stop it, happening. or if not to stop it. to — happening. or if not to stop it, to have noticed things earlier_ it, to have noticed things earlier so that things would not have _ earlier so that things would not have gotten to the point that — not have gotten to the point that they did. lucy letby was convicted _ that they did. lucy letby was convicted injune 2015 that they did. lucy letby was convicted in june 2015 of murdering seven young babies and attempting to murder another six. she has then been also _ another six. she has then been also convicted of another charge _ also convicted of another charge of attempted murder in june _ charge of attempted murder in june of— charge of attempted murder in june of that this year as well. she wiii— june of that this year as well. she will spend the rest of her life in— she will spend the rest of her life in prison. she is not eligible _ life in prison. she is not eligible for parole and she has been — eligible for parole and she has been given a whole life tariff for each _ been given a whole life tariff for each and every one of the convictions that has been

served _ convictions that has been served. since then she has been tried _ served. since then she has been tried to — served. since then she has been tried to appeal against those convictions, she lost that convictions, she lost that conviction when it went to the court — conviction when it went to the court of— conviction when it went to the court of appeal. she's got another— court of appeal. she's got another appeal against the charge _ another appeal against the charge of attempted murder that is going — charge of attempted murder that is going through the process at the moment. in the last few weeks. _ the moment. in the last few weeks, lucy letby has sacked her legat— weeks, lucy letby has sacked her legal team and taken a new team _ her legal team and taken a new team on— her legal team and taken a new team on board. they are looking at the _ team on board. they are looking at the evidence, because in the last few— at the evidence, because in the last few weeks there has been a growing — last few weeks there has been a growing number of sceptics who have _ growing number of sceptics who have raised concerns about the convictions and whether or not they— convictions and whether or not they were _ convictions and whether or not they were safe. but the fact is that this — they were safe. but the fact is that this was a child that went on for— that this was a child that went on for nearly a year, for ten months _ on for nearly a year, for ten months a _ on for nearly a year, for ten months. ajury on for nearly a year, for ten months. a jury deliberated and looked — months. a jury deliberated and looked at — months. a jury deliberated and looked at the evidence that was in front— looked at the evidence that was in front of— looked at the evidence that was in front of them for another month— in front of them for another month before coming to their conclusions. and that was that lucy— conclusions. and that was that lucy letby was guilty. so, no matter— lucy letby was guilty. so, no matter what happened with that trial, _ matter what happened with that trial, that is not what is going _ trial, that is not what is going to _ trial, that is not what is going to be discussed here today _ going to be discussed here toda . w' .., , today. nick, can i 'ust interruptfi today. nick, can i 'ust interrupt you i today. nick, can ijust interrupt you there. i today. nick, can ijust i interrupt you there. you today. nick, can ijust - interrupt you there. you are outside the inquiry, let's go

inside. because thejustice has started speaking in that inquiry, let's take a listen. they learned that their babies may have been deliberately harmed, a nurse that have been looking after their babies in the hospital had been arrested. in november 2020, she was charged with murder and attempted murder. nearly three years later, she was convicted of seven counts of murder and a seven of attempted murder. at seven of attempted murder. at seven or eight years after it does babies had been born. she was acquitted of two counts of attempted murder and thejury attempted murder and the jury could attempted murder and thejury could not agree about a further six counts of attempted murder. some parents sat through the entire, lengthy criminal trial. it was against the background of that child that this inquiry was announced in september last year. after a very few weeks during which consultation took place, including with the parents and with me, the terms

of reference were set by the then secretary of state. the inquiry bears my surname, so that the parents do not see repeatedly the name of the person who has been convicted of killing and maiming their children in every reference to the inquiry, in the hearing room, on the website, in the media. the verdicts did not bring immediate closure for the parents on the question of what happened to their babies, first there was an application for leave to appeal against the convictions which was refused, and then renewed. it was hard earlier this year over three days by full court of appeal. the court dismissed the application. in the meantime, a retrial took place in respect of one count of attempted murder. 0ne of one count of attempted murder. one of those upon which thejury had not murder. one of those upon which the jury had not reached a verdict in the first trial. she was convicted. she has launched

a further application for leave to appeal that conviction. 0n the day after that conviction, the day after that conviction, the court of appeal released a lengthyjudgment dismissing her application. it runs to 58 pages. it explains in detail why the court of appeal dismissed the application for leave to appeal. for the parents, that thejudgment parents, that the judgment marked parents, that thejudgment marked a watershed. they could now turn their attention to this inquiry, which is as important today as it was the day it was set up. the inquiry act 2005 requires me to act fairly and to avoid unnecessary cost, the terms of reference require me to conduct an inquiry as swiftly as possible. the aim of the inquiry team was to begin the hearings no later than september of 202a. and to complete them at latest in early 2025. we have worked to

that end, as have the legal teams for all the core participants. as a result, we are now able to hear the three parts of the inquiry in their natural sequence, parts of the inquiry in their naturalsequence, eight, b, c. afterthe naturalsequence, eight, b, c. after the hearings that will be for me to write the report, i cannot tell now precisely how long that will take. much depends on the nature and volume of the evidence. i can say that i expect the report to be published by late autumn next year. i should add that the reason we are able to begin the reason we are able to begin the hearings today is because of the extraordinary health and assistance —— help and assistance —— help and assistance we have received from liverpool city council and its staff. at short notice, they have made it possible for they have made it possible for the openings to be heard in this council chamber and a for the evidence to be heard in other parts of this historic building in due course. like the inquiry team, they have put

the inquiry team, they have put the parents at the heart of their planning, and i am very grateful to them. i mentioned a few moments ago that the decision of the court of appeal it was a watershed, at last the parents had finality. 0r it was a watershed, at last the parents had finality. or so it seemed. but it was not to be... in the months into the court of appeal handed down its judgment, there has been a huge outpouring of comment from a variety of quarters on the validity of the convictions. so far as i am aware, it has come entirely from people who are not at the trial. parts of the evidence have been selected and criticised, as has the conduct of the defence of trial about which those defence lawyers can say nothing. all of this noise has caused enormous additional distress to the parents who have already suffered far too

much. i make it absolutely clear that it is not for me as chair of this public inquiry to set about reviewing the convictions. the court of appeal has done that with a very clear result. the convictions stand. it is my responsibility to focus the inquiry on the questions asked inquiry on the questions asked in the terms of reference, and leading council will tell us how that is to be done in a few moments. the parents of the babies named on the indictment have waited for years for the answers to their questions, it is time to get on with this inquiry. is time to get on with this inuui . �* is time to get on with this inuui . . ., . inquiry. and more children collapsed _ inquiry. and more children collapsed unexpectedly. . inquiry. and more children - collapsed unexpectedly. medical and nursing stands in grantham bewildered by this event group deeply— bewildered by this event group deeply alarmed. tests to try to determine the causes of collapses were carried out on each — collapses were carried out on

each of — collapses were carried out on each of the children who survived. most of these tests proved — survived. most of these tests proved negative. 0n the 12th of april— proved negative. 0n the 12th of april 1991, proved negative. 0n the 12th of april1991, however, a proved negative. 0n the 12th of april 1991, however, a blood test — april 1991, however, a blood test results showed that one of the children whose blood sugar had fallen dramatically and inexplicably on three occasions, had wrongly been injected _ occasions, had wrongly been injected with insulin. the possibility that this has happened accidentally was an illuminated and the suspicion grew— illuminated and the suspicion grew that someone was deliberately harming children on word — deliberately harming children on word for. on the 30th of april— on word for. on the 30th of april 1991, the police were called _ april 1991, the police were called to investigate. as events _ called to investigate. as events were pieced together, a picture — events were pieced together, a picture emerged of one person, nurse _ picture emerged of one person, nurse at — picture emerged of one person, nurse at beverly, as the likely pulpit~ — nurse at beverly, as the likely pulpit. she was first arrested and questioned in may 1991. she was brought to trial in may 1993, _ was brought to trial in may 1993, she was convicted of the murder— 1993, she was convicted of the murder of— 1993, she was convicted of the murder of four babies and children. _ murder of four babies and children, three attempted murders and causing grievous bodily— murders and causing grievous bodily harm against six others. she was— bodily harm against six others. she was sentenced to life imprisonment on every count.

virginia — imprisonment on every count. virginia bottomley, now baroness, the secretary of state — baroness, the secretary of state of _ baroness, the secretary of state of health for the time, in a — state of health for the time, in a statement to this inquiry she says. _ in a statement to this inquiry she says. i— in a statement to this inquiry she says, i commissioned an independent inquiry to establish the facts behind this horrific— establish the facts behind this horrific case in the most rigorous _ horrific case in the most rigorous and effective way possible. and to ensure that the nhs _ possible. and to ensure that the nhs learned any lessons that could to prevent similar events— that could to prevent similar events in— that could to prevent similar events in the future. she asked to conduct— events in the future. she asked to conduct to inquiry. they had been _ to conduct to inquiry. they had been the — to conduct to inquiry. they had been the health service commissioner for england and wales— commissioner for england and wales and scotland between 1974 and 1984. the baroness tells us she believed it could be trusted to provide a thorough, independent and timely report. he did — independent and timely report. he did so. nevertheless, and it distressingly, 25 years later another— distressingly, 25 years later another nurse working in another— another nurse working in another hospital killed and harm — another hospital killed and harm to _ another hospital killed and harm to babies in her care. in august— harm to babies in her care. in august 2023, lucy letby was convicted of seven counts of

murder— convicted of seven counts of murder and a seven counts of attempted murder involving 13 babies— attempted murder involving 13 babies in— attempted murder involving 13 babies in total. this inquiry was — babies in total. this inquiry was ordered by the then secretary of state in the light of this— secretary of state in the light of this convictions. in july of this— of this convictions. in july of this year. _ of this convictions. in july of this year, lucy letby was convicted of a further count of attempted murder against another baby, baby k in respect of which — another baby, baby k in respect of which the first jury could not agree. lucy letby, qualified as a nurse in the university of chester in 2011, vou'll — university of chester in 2011, you'll hear about her training and — you'll hear about her training and qualification in due course _ and qualification in due course. in a statement to the inquiry, — course. in a statement to the inquiry, the senior lecturer on the child — inquiry, the senior lecturer on the child nursing programme at the child nursing programme at the university of chester tells us that— the university of chester tells us that the case of beverly formed _ us that the case of beverly formed part of student training and learning on the common foundation programme. whether and if— foundation programme. whether and if so — foundation programme. whether and if so how corporate lessons were _ and if so how corporate lessons were learned from the inquiry is something this inquiry will explore _ is something this inquiry will explore. it is uncontroversial that— explore. it is uncontroversial that a — explore. it is uncontroversial that a hospital's neonatal unit should — that a hospital's neonatal unit should be a place where babies are cared — should be a place where babies are cared for by doctors and

nurses, _ are cared for by doctors and nurses, where newborns are protected and nurtured. instead, at the countess of chester _ instead, at the countess of chester between june 2015 and june 2016, the neonatal unit was — june 2016, the neonatal unit was a — june 2016, the neonatal unit was a place where babies were murdered _ was a place where babies were murdered and injured by someone entrusted — murdered and injured by someone entrusted to care for them, a nurse — entrusted to care for them, a nurse working on the unit. lucy letbv's — nurse working on the unit. lucy letby's victims, the babies and their— letby's victims, the babies and their families are protected from — their families are protected from public identification by virtue — from public identification by virtue of— from public identification by virtue of orders made in the crown— virtue of orders made in the crown court. they will be referred _ crown court. they will be referred to by initials rather than — referred to by initials rather than names throughout this inguirv _ than names throughout this inquiry. their suffering must not be — inquiry. their suffering must not be compounded by being identified to the public, there must — identified to the public, there must be _ identified to the public, there must be no further intrusion into— must be no further intrusion into their— must be no further intrusion into their private and family lives — into their private and family lives. within the first part of this— lives. within the first part of this inquiry, part a, you will receive _ this inquiry, part a, you will receive heartbreaking and thoughtful evidence of the experiences of the parents whose _ experiences of the parents whose babies were named on the indictments. you will hear how their— indictments. you will hear how their lives— indictments. you will hear how their lives have been impacted

forever, — their lives have been impacted forever, it _ their lives have been impacted forever, it is imperative that each — forever, it is imperative that each of— forever, it is imperative that each of them, through their own written — each of them, through their own written or— each of them, through their own written or oral evidence, should _ written or oral evidence, should be able to tell you what happened in their words and from — happened in their words and from their unique perspectives. as counsel to the inquiry, we see _ as counsel to the inquiry, we see only— as counsel to the inquiry, we see only this. the provision of written — see only this. the provision of written or— see only this. the provision of written or oral evidence to you is testament to the enormous courage — is testament to the enormous courage of the parents, in the midst— courage of the parents, in the midst of— courage of the parents, in the midst of their pain they have demonstrated selfless commitment to the principle that— commitment to the principle that others in the future it should _ that others in the future it should not suffer as they do. it should not suffer as they do. it is — should not suffer as they do. it is all— should not suffer as they do. it is all the more troubling that— it is all the more troubling that they should be facing that this ordeal given that the inquiry— this ordeal given that the inquiry that came before us, and — inquiry that came before us, and vet _ inquiry that came before us, and yet here we are again, and inguirv— and yet here we are again, and inquiry examining how to keep baby— inquiry examining how to keep baby safe from the criminal acts— baby safe from the criminal acts of— baby safe from the criminal acts of a _ baby safe from the criminal acts of a nurse. 0ne baby safe from the criminal acts of a nurse. one aspect of the parents's evidence involves what _ the parents's evidence involves what they were and were not told — what they were and were not told about the likely cause of deaths — told about the likely cause of deaths or injuries of their babies _ deaths or injuries of their babies. what information where they given by the hospital in

respect _ they given by the hospital in respect of any concerns about lucv _ respect of any concerns about lucy letby's conduct? what were they told — lucy letby's conduct? what were they told was being done about any concerns? was the hospital candid — any concerns? was the hospital candid with the parents, if not, _ candid with the parents, if not. why— candid with the parents, if not, why not? was there a cover up? _ not, why not? was there a cover up? if— not, why not? was there a cover up? if so, — not, why not? was there a cover up? if so, why? was it more important _ up? if so, why? was it more important to protect the reputation of the hospital than to take — reputation of the hospital than to take steps to protect babies or to _ to take steps to protect babies or to get — to take steps to protect babies or to get to the bottom of who might— or to get to the bottom of who might have harmed them? it is already— might have harmed them? it is already clear that parents of the babies named on the indictment did not know that their— indictment did not know that their babies had been murdered or injured — their babies had been murdered or injured by lucy letby for years _ or injured by lucy letby for years. when they discovered their— years. when they discovered their children had been attacked, they became involved in a lengthy criminal investigation and process. the parents — investigation and process. the parents then endured a long criminal— parents then endured a long criminal trial, the parents of child — criminal trial, the parents of child k— criminal trial, the parents of child k went through a retrial as well _ child k went through a retrial as well. lucy letby is now serving _ as well. lucy letby is now serving 15 life sentences with 15 a whole life terms. she sought _ 15 a whole life terms. she sought leave to appeal against the convictions in her first trial, _ the convictions in her first trial, the _ the convictions in her first trial, the written application to appeal was dismissed. she renewed _ to appeal was dismissed. she renewed her application at a hearing _ renewed her application at a hearing before a full court of

appeal, _ hearing before a full court of appeal, which included the kihg's_ appeal, which included the king's bench division and the vice — king's bench division and the vice president of the court of appeal— vice president of the court of appeal division. after three day hearing, leave to appeal was — day hearing, leave to appeal was refused. this was because the court — was refused. this was because the court of appeal considered that the — the court of appeal considered that the appeal had no prospect of success. we recommend a careful— of success. we recommend a careful reading of the appeal detailed judgment. careful reading of the appeal detailedjudgment. my careful reading of the appeal detailed judgment. my lady, we also say— detailed judgment. my lady, we also say this. there is a requirement in every case to take — requirement in every case to take into _ requirement in every case to take into account all of the evidence and to consider each piece — evidence and to consider each piece of— evidence and to consider each piece of evidence in the context— piece of evidence in the context of all the other evidence. medical or scientific evidence — evidence. medical or scientific evidence in a case should never be compartmentalised or examined in isolation from the wider— examined in isolation from the wider campus. those who do this will be _ wider campus. those who do this will be less— wider campus. those who do this will be less likely to see the picture _ will be less likely to see the picture as a whole and in failing _ picture as a whole and in failing to see the picture as a whole — failing to see the picture as a whole, they may reach conclusions that are not only wrong, — conclusions that are not only wrong, but are speculative and damaging. the evidence we will hear— damaging. the evidence we will hear is — damaging. the evidence we will hear is directed to the terms of reference and within three

specific— of reference and within three specific areas, part a, b and c. specific areas, part a, b and c part— specific areas, part a, b and c part r _ specific areas, part a, b and c. part r eight will consider the expense of the parents named _ the expense of the parents named on the indictment and their— named on the indictment and their experience of other relevant nhs services. the parents's evidence will be heard _ parents's evidence will be heard from the beginning of next — heard from the beginning of next week, transcripts will be available _ next week, transcripts will be available to read on the inquiry— available to read on the inquiry website in due course, when — inquiry website in due course, when the _ inquiry website in due course, when the content has been appropriately redacted to prevent their identification. the — prevent their identification. the media are able to report this— the media are able to report this evidence subject to the reporting restrictions made in crown— reporting restrictions made in crown court and made in this inguirv — crown court and made in this inquiry. in _ crown court and made in this inquiry. in part b, we will examine— inquiry. in part b, we will examine the conduct of those working — examine the conduct of those working at the hospital, including the board, managers, doctors — including the board, managers, doctors and nurses. we will consider— doctors and nurses. we will consider whether it lucy letbv's _ consider whether it lucy letby's crimes could have been prevented and whether she should _ prevented and whether she should have been removed from the neonatal unit or suspended earlier~ — the neonatal unit or suspended earlier. we will ask whether relevant _ earlier. we will ask whether relevant external body should have — relevant external body should have been informed sooner concerns _ have been informed sooner concerns about lucy letby,

whether— concerns about lucy letby, whether safeguarding or other reporting procedures were followed at any point, and when the police — followed at any point, and when the police should have been contacted. it is important that we stress _ contacted. it is important that we stress at this early stage that— we stress at this early stage that the _ we stress at this early stage that the inquiries unwavering focus — that the inquiries unwavering focus will not be examining the convictions, but rather what the response of those at the time — the response of those at the time was _ the response of those at the time was and should have been to what— time was and should have been to what they knew or should have — to what they knew or should have known at that time. doctors. _ have known at that time. doctors, managers and the board were _ doctors, managers and the board were presented with a developing situation which called _ developing situation which called for a careful and thoughtful response. we will be investigating how individuals went— investigating how individuals went about this task and whether their thought processes had come at the forefront, the need _ had come at the forefront, the need to— had come at the forefront, the need to keep babies safe. by taking — need to keep babies safe. by taking this approach, your inquiry, _ taking this approach, your inquiry, my lady, will serve the — inquiry, my lady, will serve the vital— inquiry, my lady, will serve the vital process of keeping babies— the vital process of keeping babies safe in the future from those — babies safe in the future from those rare cases when a health care _ those rare cases when a health care professional intends them harm~ — care professional intends them harm. during this inquiry, we will— harm. during this inquiry, we will hear— harm. during this inquiry, we

will hear all evidence from a number— will hear all evidence from a number of doctors, nurses and managers _ number of doctors, nurses and managers. you have received written — managers. you have received written evidence from many more — written evidence from many more. where witnesses have not been _ more. where witnesses have not been called to give evidence, aspects — been called to give evidence, aspects of their evidence will likely— aspects of their evidence will likely be _ aspects of their evidence will likely be read in or summarised at various— likely be read in or summarised at various points in the hearing _ at various points in the hearing. the fact that some evidence _ hearing. the fact that some evidence will be dealt with in this way— evidence will be dealt with in this way does not make it of any— this way does not make it of any less— this way does not make it of any less value. it is important that— any less value. it is important that we — any less value. it is important that we focus the oral evidence on matters which are the subject— on matters which are the subject of dispute. all of the witnesses from whom we have received — witnesses from whom we have received statements were sent detailed — received statements were sent detailed requests for evidence by the — detailed requests for evidence by the legal team. they were provided _ by the legal team. they were provided with extensive documentation in some cases, in order— documentation in some cases, in order to — documentation in some cases, in order to assist their recollection of events. we have sought — recollection of events. we have sought to — recollection of events. we have sought to ensure that all of the witnesses give their best evidence to you and we will continue _ evidence to you and we will continue to do this. by best evidence _ continue to do this. by best evidence, we mean truthful, reflective evidence without fear — reflective evidence without fear of _ reflective evidence without fear of any impact or consequence for themselves or others — consequence for themselves or others when answering questions. some have been

granted _ questions. some have been granted special measures, such as being — granted special measures, such as being screened from public view, — as being screened from public view, to— as being screened from public view, to enable them to do this — view, to enable them to do this the _ view, to enable them to do this. the inquiry at legal team recognised that those who give evidence — recognised that those who give evidence at this inquiry do so with— evidence at this inquiry do so with the _ evidence at this inquiry do so with the benefit of hindsight. none — with the benefit of hindsight. none of— with the benefit of hindsight. none of them would wish to be here _ none of them would wish to be here and — none of them would wish to be here, and will have been affected themselves in many ways — affected themselves in many ways by— affected themselves in many ways by events at the countess of chester hospital. i know you. — of chester hospital. i know you. my _ of chester hospital. i know you, my lady, expect witnesses to tell— you, my lady, expect witnesses to tellthe — you, my lady, expect witnesses to tell the truth. however difficult that may be. the purpose of this inquiry is to reduce _ purpose of this inquiry is to reduce the risk of this happening again. none of those giving _ happening again. none of those giving evidence to you can change _ giving evidence to you can change the past, but they can have — change the past, but they can have an — change the past, but they can have an impact on the future. they— have an impact on the future. they can _ have an impact on the future. they can help this inquiry to fulfil— they can help this inquiry to fulfil its _ they can help this inquiry to fulfil its purpose. it is their obligation to do so. part c of the terms _ obligation to do so. part c of the terms of reference require consideration of a number of matters _ consideration of a number of matters relevant to the wider nhs~ — matters relevant to the wider nhs. these include concerns about— nhs. these include concerns about the current culture, governance, management structures, regulation, and

other— structures, regulation, and other external scrutiny when fulfilling the obligations... you — fulfilling the obligations... you are _ fulfilling the obligations... you are listening to counsel to the thirlwall inquiry, i should say that if you want to continue following the inquiry you can do so via live stream on the bbc news website. but for the moment, i want to take you to live space launch that is about to take place. any moment now, space x is scheduled to launch for private astronauts into space. this is on board a falcon nine rocket. the polaris dawn mission aims to use new spacesuits designed by space x to attempt the first commercial spacewalk. let's take a listen in and see if we can hear... take a listen in and see if we can hear- - -— can hear... aswe depressurized - can hear... aswe depressurized and i can hear... aswe. depressurized and drain can hear... aswe- depressurized and drain the

lines up the side of the strong bed. and then as we get down inside the last minute 45, and then one minute, dragging into countdown, falcon nine plus my computers will start up. waiting for the call out now for liquid oxygen. and here we 90, for liquid oxygen. and here we go, lux loading complete on the second stage, all major propel and activities are complete will stop dragon has gone to auto idol, one of the states on its flight computer. we will begin down the lines... there we go. as we come up on t —1 minute we will hear dragon computers in the countdown,

falcon nine computers and the countdown, flight termination system armed, and then we will give it a go. let's listen into the last 66 seconds of the countdown. applause t -30 t —30 seconds.

t -15... t-15...t t -15... t -10, t —15... t —10, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one! applause t plus 35 seconds into the mission, flight crew on board the falcon nine, the new

heights. so, you are watching the therapy yet live, successful so far, launch of the spacex rocket, what is fascinating about this is that it is containing a crew of four private astronauts, so we have a billionaire entrepreneur on there, a retired military fighter pilot and to spacex employees. just taking off their from employees. just taking off theirfrom nasa's kennedy space centre in florida. and itjust to let you know, this mission will last about five days. 0rbiting around earth, and it will be the farthest any humans will be the farthest any humans will have travelled to since the end of the united states apollo moon programme. in 1972. apollo moon programme. in 1972. a spectacular picture there. as the spacex mission, an aborted launch attempt last month, it

was delayed for a month. it certainly so far it looks to have been successful. we will leave those pictures there, but keep you updated on there, but keep you updated on the spacex mission. but let's return to our top story, you will remember that we were listening to the opening words at the lucy letby inquiry, which has begun today. our correspondent was listening outside the inquiry in liverpool, nick, just quickly sum up what we have heard so far. the parameters of this particular inquiry, what it is looking at, what questions it is hoping to answer... this is liverpool— is hoping to answer... this is liverpool town _ is hoping to answer... this is liverpool town hall, - is hoping to answer... this is liverpooltown hall, and - is hoping to answer... this is liverpool town hall, and on i is hoping to answer... this is i liverpool town hall, and on the ground floor is the main place where liverpool city council

sits, and that is where the thirlwall inquiry is being held. it will run until around december or before a report is issued next autumn, into the events at the countess of chester hospital. it is looking at what lessons can be learned, what lessons could be taught from this that will stop this happening again. we havejust heard the counsel from the inquiry tell the inquiry that the past may not be able to be changed, but the future can. what will it be looking at? it will be looking at the role of the hospital, the role of the staff at the hospital, whether they moved quick enough when it suspicions were raised about lucy letby's behaviour, and whether that was enough time to stop whether they did things in enough time to try to stop things or do the least harm possible. 0r things or do the least harm possible. or could they have moved more quickly? so, they will be hearing from everybody involved, they will be carrying written evidence, they will be hearing oral evidence, that is

people appearing here and giving their evidence to them. they will be asking whether enough staff was the hospital capable of treating very preterm and sick babies? some of them werejust preterm and sick babies? some of them were just 27 weeks old when they were born. 0r of them were just 27 weeks old when they were born. or should those children have been treated elsewhere, in another more specialist unit? what was the role of the consultants? why did it take so long to spot the spike in the number of deaths? and where the hospital authorities to slow to call in the police? so, who will be called? as well as the parents, one of the key things about this inquiry, that it will be the parents to talk about how things happen for them, and the role that they had, and what they saw about their children. this is going back almost ten years now, nine years. so it will be an opportunity for them to go back in time and to go through what happened there and talk about their experiences. they will talk to a hospital managers past and present, who will give evidence as well, and

experts who carried out analysis of what happened and why it happened. and again, look at if anything could have been done to stop lucy letby. the terms reference, it was explained that it would be called to the thirlwall inquiry for one simple reason. for the family's sake, she said she did not want the murderer�*s name to be used every single time this was referenced in either the newspapers or on or on television or radio. so, she wanted to call it the thirlwall inquiry. she criticised speculation that has been going on in the newspapers and online in the last few months, she said partial evidence had been highlighted by people who were not at the trial. remember, this was a trial that lasted ten months. ajury then this was a trial that lasted ten months. a jury then took a month to come to its deliberations and to come to its conclusions. lady thirlwall said that this was not a time to start looking at what had happened, the court of appeal had done that, it was safe in the convictions. but this was a

time to look to the future and see what lessons can be learned. see what lessons can be learned-— the release of 1700 prisoners has begun across england and wells is part of an adventure to bid to ease overcrowding in jails. beginning this morning, some offenders who served at least 40% of their sentences will be released. the government says it will free up 5500 more prison spaces in the next few months. here is our reporter adina campbell. 0ne reporter adina campbell. one of the most dangerous and crowded jails in the uk. ihftt’i’irf crowded jails in the uk. hmv bentonville. _ crowded jails in the uk. hmv bentonville. this _ crowded jails in the uk. hmv bentonville. this was - bentonville. this was pentonville _ bentonville. this was pentonville prison . bentonville. this was pentonville prison in | bentonville. this was - pentonville prison in north london last week. the bbc was given rare access and within minutes... disorderwas given rare access and within minutes... disorder was rife. in an attempt to fix a criminal

justice system at