A review into the events leading up to the death of a 13-month-old boy – murdered by a woman who wanted to adopt him – will be published later today.
In May, Laura Castle was jailed for the murder of Leiland-James Corkhill in Barrow.
Leiland-James was placed with Castle, 38, and her husband Scott Castle in August 2020 as they had applied to adopt him.
Five months later, Leiland-James died. An ambulance was called by Laura Castle at 8.15am on January 6 2021.
Paramedics attended the Castles’ home in Barrow within minutes to find Leiland-James in respiratory arrest, floppy and unresponsive. Laura Castle told paramedics that he had fallen from the sofa.
Leiland-James was taken to Furness General Hospital where he was found to be in cardiorespiratory arrest with a head injury.
He was then transferred to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool where he was treated for his injuries. Despite their best efforts, Leiland-James died the following day.
Cumbria County Council said in the last month of her pregnancy the plan was to remove Laura’s son at birth. They say they told her this three times. Laura disputes this, and she said she was still waiting to see the paperwork, and that she only received confirmation when the social worker was taking her son from the hospital.
She continued to see him at a contact centre until COVID restrictions stopped face-to-face interactions. Laura said she only found out it was closed when she turned up there and found it shuttered.
The council told the BBC Laura was assessed as not being able to meet Leiland-James’s needs and during his life her circumstances did not change.
Cumbria County Council said in July 2020 the family court agreed that Leiland-James should be adopted and Laura was informed. Laura says this did not happen.
The authority said when a child was at risk of harm, it had a duty to act.
