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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
World
Kate Lally

Killer foster mum Laura Castle's harrowing two-word police interview

A monster who murdered a one-year-old baby can be seen repeating "no comment" to police in new footage.

Laura Castle was found guilty of murdering 13-month-old Leiland-James Corkill last week after a court was told she had 'leathered' the child who suffered fatal head injuries. The toddler had been placed in the care of Laura Castle and her husband, Scott Castle, 35, in August 2020.

But five months later, on January 6, 2021, paramedics found the tot unresponsive and floppy when they attended the couple’s home in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria. Leiland-James died the following day after doctors found that his heart wasn’t beating and he had a head injury, which Laura Castle said he sustained by falling from a sofa.

READ MORE: Footage shows 'baby killer' pulling faces as child sobs in hospital

During her trial at Preston Crown Court, the foster mum pleaded guilty to manslaughter, after admitting that she shook the baby so that he was “stop crying.” But texts shared between Laura Castle and her husband revealed that she had referred to Leiland-James as a “proper n*bhead", a "d**k" and a s**t bag".

She also admitted to "smacking" the child in the messages. In one text she wrote: "I honestly really don't like him lately, he's an absolute moaning winge bag and I totally regret doin this [sic].

"I'm goin to lose my mind. He just p****s me off all the time, can never just have a nice day or night ever. Although I need to stop smacking him cos if I start I'll not stop at one point and it's not getting us anywhere and then I feel bad."

New footage shows Castle repeatedly replying "no comment" to police as they quiz her over previous times she admitted "slapping" the baby.

Laura Castle has been jailed for life and must serve a minimum of 18 years (© Cumbria Police / SWNS)

Castle later changed her story when the severity of Leiland-James's injuries were revealed in court and it was clear they couldn't have been caused by her version of events.

She pleaded guilty to manslaughter at Preston Crown Court where medical experts said the degree of force required to cause Leiland-James' injuries would have been "severe" and likely to be a combination of shaking and an impact with a solid surface.

A jury later found Laura Castle guilty of murdering Leiland-James, with a judge set to determine her sentence at a later date, while Scott Castle was acquitted. Laura Castle wept uncontrollably in the dock as the jury heard she would be "forever remembered as a baby killer with all the stigma attached to the term".

Castle was sentenced to life in prison on Wednesday (May 25) and must serve a minimum term of 18 years.

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