Leiland-James Corkill's murder happened because the woman who was adopting him lied to social workers about her financial and health struggles, coroner says
A baby's murder happened because the woman who was adopting him lied to social workers about her financial and health struggles, a coroner has said.
Baby Leiland-James Corkill was shaken to death by Laura Castle at their home in Barrow, Cumbria, on January 6, 2021.
Cumbria's assistant coroner Dr Nicholas Shaw said Laura Castle and her husband Scott Castle, who was cleared of wrongdoing, were 'simply not truthful' during the adoption process.
Leiland-James was taken into care two days after his birth in Whitehaven in December 2019, and was put with the Castle family in August 2020.
Laura Castle violently shook the baby about four months later and possibly banged his head against a hard service, causing a serious brain injury.
Baby Leiland-James Corkill (pictured) was shaken to death by Laura Castle at their home in Barrow, Cumbria, on January 6 , 2021
Laura Castle (pictured) violently shook the baby and possibly banged his head against a hard service, causing a serious brain injury
There were also signs the infant had been physically abused, pathologists found, with marks suggesting the baby had been poked, slapped and pinched on the day he died.
Laura Castle was found guilty of murder at Preston Crown Court where she was jailed in May 2022, having admitted manslaughter. She was given a life sentence with a minimum term of 18 years.
Scott Castle, who was in bed when Leiland-James was injured, was cleared of allowing or causing the baby's tragic death.
Cumbria County Council social workers said they had concerns about the family not bonding with the baby but were not concerned for his safety, the BBC reported.
A review found there were some 'holes' in the adoption system, including the reliance on prospective parents being 'open and honest' about their health and fitness.
Laura Castle told the social worker she did not love Leiland-James and did not think the child liked her, but still wanted to proceed with his placement and eventually adopt him.
Messages uncovered by officers after the child's death showed Laura Castle calling the baby a 'moaning whinge bag' who she would need to stop 'smacking'.
Cumbria's assistant coroner Dr Nicholas Shaw said Laura Castle and her husband Scott Castle (pictured), who was cleared of wrongdoing, were 'simply not truthful'
Laura Castle told the social worker she did not love Leiland-James and did not think the child liked her
Dr Shaw said the couple were 'simply not truthful' with social workers about their health and financial difficulties - or about their treatment of the infant.
Dr Shaw added that if the couple had been honest about their financial struggles, it was likely the baby would not have been put with them.
'We don't know why they didn't ask for help,' the coroner said, adding: 'This is the thing I don't understand.'
Dr Shaw also said there was 'disturbing reference' to beatings of the baby in 'abusive' messages between the couple.
He concluded Leiland-James had been unlawfully killed and the 'significant causative factor' was the couple's 'failure to disclose fully their circumstances'.
In 2022, a child safeguarding practice review into the case revealed that Castle, who already had a birth child, was receiving 'talking therapy' with an NHS-commissioned service when she applied in January 2019 to be an adoptive parent.
The review added: 'This included her self-report that she was often irritable and short-tempered, including shouting too much at her young child.
'She spoke about feeling judged by other parents and that she avoided company. She also reported drinking six bottles of wine a week which impacted on her motivation and mood, although she denied it had an impact on her parenting.'
