- An inquest into the death of 53-year-old consultant paediatrician Dr Mark Deakin, who was referred to as the boyfriend of serial killer nurse Lucy Letby during her trial, will take place next February.
- Dr Deakin died in hospital on 3 July, nine days after being found collapsed in his vehicle on 24 June following concerns for his welfare raised with Cheshire Police.
- HM Senior Coroner for Cheshire Jacqueline Devonish opened the inquest, noting reasons to suspect the death was unnatural, with a pre-inquest review set for 22 January ahead of the full hearing on 23 and 24 February.
- Dr Deakin was granted lifetime anonymity when giving evidence at Letby's trial, but reporting restrictions were lifted after his death and reported dismissal for gross misconduct from Alder Hey Children's Hospital.
- Evidence from the public inquiry revealed Dr Deakin exchanged 1,355 messages with Letby and supported her grievance case, later stating that the convicted murderer had misled and manipulated him.
IN FULL
