Laura Castle, 38, said Leiland-James Corkill, 12, fell from a sofa at her home in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, by mistake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She is charged with murder, while her husband Scott Castle is accused of causing or permitting the death of a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Castle has pled guilty to manslaughter, but does not believe she wanted to harm or kill him, according to the jury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On Tuesday, Castle testified to the jury that Leiland-James was “screaming” after breakfast on January 6, last year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I shook,” she told her barrister, David McLachlan QC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“How many times did you shake him?” Mr McLachlan inquired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I’m not sure,” Castle answered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“How much force did you use to shake him?” Mr McLachlan continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I don’t know,” the defendant answered, “but I would say a lot.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She elaborated. Leiland- James slipped off her knee to the floor after hitting his head on the back of the sofa arm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“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.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Castle, in sobs, admitted to killing Leiland-James.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“What went through your mind as you shook the life out of Leiland-James?” Mr McLachlan inquired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘I FORGOT MY MIND’<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Please stop sobbing, please stop crying,” Castle urged. I only wanted it to end.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She claimed she told her husband the child had fallen off the sofa at the moment, but not about the shaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Why didn’t you tell the people trying to save Leiland-James’ life what had happened?” Mr McLachlan said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I don’t have an excuse,” Castle remarked. I was simply terrified. I was simply afraid and ashamed of the implications of my conduct.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“And police officers in interview gave you every opportunity to tell the truth?” her lawyer asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“They did,” the defendant admitted. I told the truth, but I didn’t say everything I should have.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She admits not giving a complete account in her prepared defense statement before the trial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“What did you intend when you shook Leiland-James, Mrs Castle?” Mr McLachlan inquired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I had no intention,” she responded. “I’ve gone insane.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Laura Castle denies child maltreatment and murder. Scott Castle denies causing or permitting Leiland-James’ death, as well as child maltreatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On Wednesday, the trial will resume.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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