A mother sobbed as confessed to killing the kid she wanted to adopt.

Laura Castle, 38, said Leiland-James Corkill, 12, fell from a sofa at her home in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, by mistake.

However, when medics treating the girl in hospital following the incident in January 2021 discovered catastrophic head injuries that did not fit her version, they raised the alarm.

For more than a year, Castle insisted Leiland-James’ murder was a terrible accident, until she accepted to homicide on the eve of her trial at Preston Crown Court last week.

She is charged with murder, while her husband Scott Castle is accused of causing or permitting the death of a child.

Castle has pled guilty to manslaughter, but does not believe she wanted to harm or kill him, according to the jury.

Leiland-James was a “looked-after child” who was brought into care at birth before being allowed to live with Castle and her husband, Scott, 35, beginning in August 2020.

Castle was struggling within days of the placement, according to the court, and text exchanges to her husband revealed that she referred to the kid as a “proper n*b head,” a “fat s**t,” and a “top t*at.”

On Tuesday, Castle testified to the jury that Leiland-James was “screaming” after breakfast on January 6, last year.

“I shook,” she told her barrister, David McLachlan QC.

“How many times did you shake him?” Mr McLachlan inquired.

“I’m not sure,” Castle answered.

“How much force did you use to shake him?” Mr McLachlan continued.

“I don’t know,” the defendant answered, “but I would say a lot.”

She elaborated. Leiland- James slipped off her knee to the floor after hitting his head on the back of the sofa arm.

“I picked him up,” Castle explained. I couldn’t stand it any longer. I have no idea who that person is, and then it’s as though I realized what had happened and assumed he was exhausted. When I picked him up, his hands were stiff, and then he became floppy. I just assumed he was winded because he was wheezing.”

Castle, in sobs, admitted to killing Leiland-James.

“What went through your mind as you shook the life out of Leiland-James?” Mr McLachlan inquired.

‘I FORGOT MY MIND’

“Please stop sobbing, please stop crying,” Castle urged. I only wanted it to end.”

She claimed she told her husband the child had fallen off the sofa at the moment, but not about the shaking.

“Why didn’t you tell the people trying to save Leiland-James’ life what had happened?” Mr McLachlan said.

“I don’t have an excuse,” Castle remarked. I was simply terrified. I was simply afraid and ashamed of the implications of my conduct.”

“And police officers in interview gave you every opportunity to tell the truth?” her lawyer asked.

“They did,” the defendant admitted. I told the truth, but I didn’t say everything I should have.”

She admits not giving a complete account in her prepared defense statement before the trial.

“It was very difficult for me to say that your child died as a result of your conduct, and I can’t take that back,” Castle said.

“What did you intend when you shook Leiland-James, Mrs Castle?” Mr McLachlan inquired.

“I had no intention,” she responded. “I’ve gone insane.”

Laura Castle denies child maltreatment and murder. Scott Castle denies causing or permitting Leiland-James’ death, as well as child maltreatment.

On Wednesday, the trial will resume.