Leila Borrington, who killed her stepson Harvey and was jailed for manslaughter this week, is regularly visited in prison by Harvey's dad. Leila, 23, left three-year-old Harvey Borrington with fatal head injuries - and she was jailed for 15 years.
She filmed young Harvey in a state of collapse. And Nottingham Crown Court was told she messaged Harvey’s dad Jonathan Borrington, 33, saying: “Why does this happen to me?”
Yet relatives have revealed the pair, who got engaged two months before the August 2021 killing, have enjoyed regular visits at Derbyshire’s HMP Foston Hall and still aim to wed, the Mirror Reports.
Read more: Heartbroken birth mum of tragic Harvey Borrington speaks of her 'beautiful little boy'
Harvey’s grandad Keith Borrington said: “He’s [Jonathan Borrington] been visiting her and they have a daughter together [also aged three]. Leila is her mum. She had an engagement ring and they were really happy and planning their wedding. That’s why none of this makes sense.”
Gardener Keith, of Nottingham, said family members believe Harvey’s death had been accidental, in line with Leila’s evidence before the court case. He said: “We’re still in shock knowing nothing can ever bring back Harvey but you just have to deal with it.”
In her trial, Leila Borrington, of Main Road, Jacksdale, claimed Harvey “fell backwards” off an armchair, causing a fatal brain bleed and she filmed him to show paramedics his condition prior to their arrival but they never saw the footage.
Keith said: “I don’t know how she’ll cope with being inside. It wouldn’t surprise me if she tries to appeal against the length of her sentence.”
At Nottingham Crown Court she was cleared of murder. After his death, older injuries were found on Harvey, including a broken arm. Leila Borrington claimed it happened “while she was trying to stop him falling down the stairs”.
Read next:
Lying stepmum who killed toddler gave 'false account' his broken arm was an 'accident'
Footage shows happy toddler who was killed by stepmum laughing and smiling in car
Heartbroken mum of tragic Harvey Borrington speaks of her 'beautiful little boy'
'Calculating' stepmum filmed toddler on floor after he collapsed instead of getting help