Foster mum says ‘this is my fault’ after confessing to shaking baby to death then lying about it
A FOSTER mum told a court “this is my fault” after confessing to killing a 12-month-old boy she hoped to adopt.
Laura Castle, 38, said she wanted to take custody of Leiland-James Corkill in a bid to “give him justice”.
But the young lad died after suffering catastrophic injuries in January last year, Preston Crown court heard.
Castle told doctors, police and her family that the youngster died from a tragic accident when he fell off a sofa at her home in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, jurors heard.
Doctors treating the youngster in hospital following the incident at the Castles’ home are said to have raised the alarm when they found his injuries did not match Laura Castle’s account.
Leiland-James tragically died the following day.
Read more on UK News
Castle lied in her prepared defence case statement before she eventually changed her plea and conceded that she had shaken Leiland-James after he would not stop crying and screaming, the court heard.
She said she lied because she was “ashamed” and “terrified of the consequences of her actions”.
Castle entered a plea of guilty to the manslaughter of Leiland-James on the eve of her trial – more than 16 months after the youngster died from catastrophic head injuries.
However, the defendant denies murder and told the court that young boy hit his head on the back of a sofa arm-rest after she shook him and then he fell off her knee on to the floor.
Most read in News
Medical experts told the trial though that the degree of force required to cause his injuries would have been “severe” and “considerable”.
Cross-examining Michael Brady QC put it to Laura Castle that it was not just a case of shaking as she denied the accusations.
He said: “I suggest you smashed the back of Leiland-James’s head with significant force against the arm-rest of the sofa or possibly a table.”
“What was so frustrating about this baby that caused you to act in this way?”
The defendant replied: “I was so tired and drained and overwhelmed. There was so much noise.”
When Mr Brady posed why she had decided “not to simply walk away” from the crying child she said: “I honestly think about that every second of the day and regret what I have done, and I have to pay the consequence for that. I accept that.”
She added: “What I’m trying to do is give my boy justice. This is my fault.”
As Mr Brady asked whether she was “continuing to lie,” the defendant said: “No. I accept that my child has died because of me.”
He then posed: “Lying to the 12 members of this jury is not going to cause you any difficulty at all, is it?”
She replied: “I have been honest. I am just telling what happened and yes it may be too late but I’m trying to pay for what I have done.”
Prosecuting Mr Brady added: “Have you been so overcome by guilt you have fallen on your sword or is it an acceptance of the utterly compelling medical evidence showing this is a non-accidental injury?
Laura Castle replied: “We did guilty because I am guilty.”
Mr Brady: “You have tried to talk your way out of a conviction for murder, haven’t you?”
Facing the jurors, Laura Castle said: “No. I said yesterday on hearing the evidence from the prosecution I would be convicting me of murder but all I can say is please look at everything.”
Read More on The Sun
Laura Castle denies murder and child cruelty and her partner Scott Castle denies causing or allowing the death of Leiland-James and also child cruelty.
The trial continues.