A woman who forcibly shook a baby who was in the process of adoption was sentenced to a minimum of 18 years in prison for murder.
Laura Castle, 38, lost her temper with the baby because he kept crying after breakfast, a court heard.
In a letter to the judge, the baby’s biological mother said, “He was placed in a monster’s home.”
On Wednesday, Judge Jeremy Baker, sitting in Preston Court, said it may never be clear what exactly happened the day Leyland-James Corkill died.
The judge said that given the expert testimony about the extent of Leyland-James’ internal and external injuries “and in particular his brain, eyes and spine”, he said Castle’s account significantly underestimated the extent and extent of the violence you inflicted. “
It must have involved “very heavy or significant impact and vibration forces” to cause internal injuries, while external injuries are consistent with “slapping, pinching and pushing”.
Leyland-James Corkill suffered internal and external injuries, including to the brain, eyes and spine. Photo: BBC News
Castle had said that she had shaken the baby, his head had hit the armrest of the sofa, and it had fallen to the floor.
The judge said Castle and her husband had regularly discussed returning the baby to local authorities. “It’s nothing short of a tragedy that you didn’t do.”
The baby was removed from its biological mother every two days before spending eight months with foster parents. He then went to Laura and Scott Castle in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, where he lived until his murder, shortly after he was 13 months old.
The court read statements about the impact on the victim from the baby’s biological mother and the woman who was his foster care.
In a statement, the mother said she felt very hurt and angry with local authorities.
“No one ever thinks they will lose a child and there are no words to describe how it feels. I was looking forward to letters and news about his life and how he grew up to be a loving young boy.
“I was told he would be safe and have a good life. I was fine with that. Now my world is shattered – it would never have happened if he had been with me. “
Castle, who was sobbing loudly during the sentence, denied the murder, but admitted premeditated murder to “do justice” to the baby.
In her letter, the biological mother wrote: “The monster said she wanted her boy to have justice.” He was not and never will be your boy. You lost that right in the first second it went through your head to hurt him.
The baby’s foster care said the death affected her entire family.
“As a family unit, we face almost daily struggles as we learn more… we all feel as if the pain will never go away.”
She continued: “I have never told the jury what a beautiful little boy he is, with the most infectious laughter, and I feel that this may have disappointed him, because they need to know that.
Castle’s lawyer, David McLachlan, QC, said his client was a woman “alone and devastated without support.” She was “isolated and expelled” and said it was not a case involving prolonged violence and atrocities.
The Cumbria County Council, which placed the baby in castles for adoption, apologized and said the case was under independent scrutiny.
John Ridman, executive director of the People’s Council, said: “Child abuse by adoptive parents is almost unheard of, and we are determined to do everything we can to prevent it from happening again, here or elsewhere.
Leslie Walker, chairman of the Cumbria Child Protection Partnership, said the review was taking place in parallel with the criminal proceedings.
“The review report is in the final stages of approval and we intend to publish it in July, at which point I will be able to talk more about its findings. At the heart of this is a little boy who should be alive today and living happily with a new family, and we must not forget that. “
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