Jurors have found a woman guilty of murdering a 12-month-old baby whom she was looking to adopt at the time of his death along with her partner.

In this tragic case, with Michael Brady KC prosecuting, foster mother Laura Castle had admitted to killing the baby – Leiland-James Corkill. The defendant maintained that the child’s death was a tragic accident until she admitted to killing him on the eve of her trial at Preston Crown Court. 

Castle lied in her prepared defence case statement before she eventually changed her plea and conceded she had shaken Leiland-James and killed him by ‘smashing his head against the sofa’ after he would not stop crying and screaming.

Yesterday (17 May), Castle was convicted of murder and child cruelty whilst her partner Scott Castle was found not guilty of allowing the baby’s death and not guilty of child cruelty.

Officials at Cumbria County Council described the case as ‘truly shocking’ and issued an apology for the death of Leiland-James – saying ‘it should have never happened’.

They also promised an official review into his death, which is expected to be published in July.

Michael Brady KC is a practising door tenant of Cornwall Street

Read more about the case here:

Leiland-James Corkhill murder: Foster mother Laura Castle, 38, is found guilty of killing | Daily Mail Online