One-year-old Leiland-James Corkill died from ‘catastrophic’ head injuries
A woman has been convicted of murdering a 13-month-old boy she was hoping to adopt.
Leiland-James Corkill was placed with Laura Castle, 38, and her husband Scott Castle, 35, by authorities in Cumbria less than five months before his death from catastrophic head injuries.
The youngster was a “looked-after child” who was taken into care at birth and was in the care of foster parents until he was eight months old. He was approved to live with his prospective adoptive parents from August 2020.
A series of texts between Castle and her husband showed the tot being described in derogatory terms, with Castle also saying that she had “leathered” him.
What happened to Leiland-James?
Laura Castle rang for an ambulance on the morning of 6 January last year and reported Leiland-James had fallen off the sofa, injured his head and was struggling to breathe.
However, hospital medics raised concerns as the extent of his injuries did not match her account.
Leiland-James died the following day as Laura Castle maintained to police, as well as family and friends, that the death was a tragic accident while her husband, a night shift worker, was asleep.
She stuck to her story until the day the jury was sworn in last month for her trial at Preston Crown Court when she pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
Her new version of events was she had shaken Leiland-James after he had not stopped crying at breakfast and his head hit the arm-rest of the sofa before he fell off her knee on to the floor.
Medical experts told the court though that the degree of force required to cause Leiland-James’ injuries would have been “severe” and likely to be a combination of shaking and an impact with a solid surface.
Prosecutor Michael Brady QC said it was the Crown’s case she killed the boy as she lost her temper and suggested she smashed the back of his head against a piece of furniture.
When will Laura Castle be sentenced?
Former care worker Laura Castle denied intending to kill Leiland-James or seriously harm him but jurors took just two-and-half hours on Tuesday to convict her of murder.
She was also convicted of child cruelty against Leiland-James.
Sentencing will take place next Wednesday.
Scott Castle, was found not guilty of allowing Leiland-James’ death.
He was also cleared of child cruelty.
He said he never had any concerns that anything bad was going to happen with the boy and he trusted his wife.
The Castles had been selected by an adoption panel following an application process overseen by Cumbria Children’s Services Department, the court heard.
Had concerns been raised?
In November 2020 concerns were raised that Laura Castle had said during a home visit she did not love Leiland-James and was struggling to bond with him.
The following month, the Castles were told by a senior social worker she would not support any application to formally adopt Leiland-James at that stage and recommended further therapeutic parenting sessions.
The possibility of removing Leiland-James from their care was canvassed, but Laura Castle said her extended family loved him so he was “not going anywhere”.
Concerns remained about the lack of emotional bond, the court heard, and a review by social services was set to take place in the new year.
When detectives examined the mobile phones of the defendants following their arrest they found text messages which were derogatory towards Leiland-James.
Laura Castle wrote the youngster was a “proper nob head”, “s**t bag” and “top twat”, while her husband said he was a “d**k baby”, “fat s**t” and “toss bag”.
Laura Castle said the texts reflected her “sense of humour” and should not be taken literally, while Scott Castle he was now “ashamed” at sending the messages but he did not mean malice and was trying to sympathise with his wife.
She messaged on several occasions she had “leathered” Leiland-James, although she told the jury that only meant smacking.
In one exchange in September 2020 she wrote: ”I’m seriously at my wits end, no-one tells you about all this s**t. I’m just an abusive parent so it seems.”
Scott Castle responded: “Your not an abusive parent, baby. Not at all. Don’t say that. I think he’s a little too f***ed up for us to handle.
“Let’s just call it quits. I don’t want you to have a mental break down. Your more important to me than him.”
What has Cumbria County Council said?
Cumbria County Council said an independent review is taking place into the case and is due to report back in July.
John Readman, the council’s executive director for people, said: “Adoption should have been a new beginning for Leiland.
“That was cruelly taken away from him by the person who should have cared for him and kept him safe.
“We are deeply sorry for Leiland’s death, it should not have happened.
“Our thoughts and sympathies are with his birth family and all those who knew this little boy.
“Abuse of a child by adopters is almost unheard of and we are determined to do everything we can to prevent this happening again, here or anywhere else.”
What has the CPS said?
Joanne Close, Senior Crown Prosecutor with CPS North West said: “This has been an incredibly sad case involving the death of 13-month-old Leiland-James Corkill.
“His birth mother believed he would be safe and have a good life. His foster parents cared for and loved him for eight months; they described him as a beautiful little boy with the most contagious laugh. But his life was cruelly cut short by the actions of Laura Castle; she was self-centred, abusive and violent and unfit to provide a home to this vulnerable child.
“The Crown Prosecution Service worked very closely with Cumbria Police to build the strongest possible case to secure justice for Leiland-James. Laura Castle was given no option but to admit at the start of the trial that she had caused his death. The jury had the evidence they needed to find her guilty of his murder.
“I hope today’s conviction provide some comfort to those that loved Leiland-James. My thoughts are with them.”
