Scott and Laura Castle

[Keelz11]

I still can’t get over this I went to school with him. He was the biggest pushover you have ever met an absolute wet wipe

 

[maytoseptember]

How can you ‘not get on’ with a 1 year old? They can’t talk or walk and just poop, eat, cry and sleep. They literally can’t do anything to ‘not get on’ with people because they act purely by instinct. Abusing an infant isn’t appropriately described as ‘not getting on’ with them.

I can totally understand that they were shocked and blindsided by how difficult they found adjusting to a traumatised, unsettled baby suddenly appearing in their lives. I can imagine that caring for this baby, taken away from the only caregivers he knew, must have been genuinely awful. He would have cried a lot. I can’t imagine that he would have let them comfort him either. And to top it off he wasn’t biologically related to them so they didn’t feel any sort of bond or love for him. I can understand all of that.

But… they should have known that was going to happen. Surely it would have been addressed over and over during their fostering training? To actually allow yourself to be tipped over the edge into violence and abuse is unthinkable. I have no idea what they’re going to say during the trial.

 

[GingerJones50]

Leiland Corkhill was 13 months old and had been placed for adoption as a baby with the Castles. Very quickly they didn’t get on with Leiland and in January he lost his life.


Laura Castle admits manslaughter but not Murder. Scott Castle denies causing or allowing the death of a child.

Live updates: Woman admits unlawful killing of Leiland Corkill

THE jury in a trial of a couple accused of being involved in the death of a one-year-old has been sworn in. Prosecutors will outline their case this…

www.nwemail.co.uk

How can you ‘not get on’ with a 1 year old? They can’t talk or walk and just poop, eat, cry and sleep. They literally can’t do anything to ‘not get on’ with people because they act purely by instinct. Abusing an infant isn’t appropriately described as ‘not getting on’ with them.

 

[Tofino]

11:55am
Why would you need to smack a nine, ten, 11 month old child?
"To show right and wrong."

I can’t believe there are people in this day and age that still believe smacking a child (any age, never mind a baby!!) is appropriate. The irony that it’s meant to show right and wrong yet one of the most wrongful things you can do is hurt a child!

It’s really infuriating me that she keeps referring to him as ‘my boy’. I don’t know if pre-adoption he still technically was but I don’t care, i don’t think she derserves to keep referring to him in that way.

 

[maytoseptember]

If it transpires that they seamlessly went through all the hoops and passed with flying colours to be approved as suitable people for fostering and adopting, then I can’t see how we can ever 100% prevent this. Equally though, if there were in fact red flags but the authorities ignored them then there’s the problem.

Yes. Exactly. I don’t think we can stop it.

I read the evidence from the social worker this morning and it seemed pretty clear that they knew the placement might collapse and it was only a matter of time before they would have to intervene. It sounds like it would have made things considerably easier if the couple had said “Come and get him, we can’t do this” but they (or the husband at least) was reluctant because the wider family “loved him”. They were reminded that this wasn’t a good enough reason to proceed with the adoption.

I also loathe it when people talk about “tapping” as a euphemism for smacking. A genuine tap would barely register with a baby as having happened, let alone register as discipline. So when someone says “tapping” they always mean smacking.

 

[Emsie]

Leaving aside that Laura Castle was awful, Social Services really do have to stop putting babies in temporary placements and put them with the parents who want to adopt them at birth. It’s so cruel that poor little babies are put in temporary placements and SS deliberately put them in distressing situations where they are separated from their carer since birth.

Yes, I know in a few cases they may ultimately be returned to be birth parents which will be distressing for potential adopters, but in other circumstances SS have no compunction about distressing potential adopters if it’s in the best interests of the child. If they are passed back to birth parents but the babies will be separated from their carers from birth regardless in ALL cases now rather than just in a few as that system would do. Removal at birth is so rare it’s only done in absolutely CATASTROPHIC cases so return to birth parents would be very unusual.

This is quite incorrect. Lots of babies are removed at birth, especially if birth parents are known to social services and it is not the first child. It will be arranged from pregnancy that the child will be removed at birth placed into Foster care and have contact with birth parents if appropriate. Believe it or not a lot of birth parents don't even turn up to that contact because of their chaotic lifestyles.
The hope is that baby stays with Foster parents until a family is found then they are moved to adoptive parents who, after 10 weeks, with social worker support apply for the adoption order.
Children are moved around Foster care when adoptive families can't be found. That's traumatic for them as they are severed from primary carers multiple times.
Laura was an adoptive parent not a Foster parent. She hadn't applied for the adoption order as social workers did not support this because of her lack of bond. This isn't unusual. Babies don't bond easily because there last primary carer disappeared so this one probably will too in their little traumatised minds. Adoptive parents don't bond because a traumatised stranger has moved into your world. It's all completely normal what Leiland was doing. He was grieving for his primary carer and instead of responding to that calmly, patiently, gently and therapeutically she beat him and killed him. I'm staggered by this story I just don't know how she could have done this knowing what he had already been through.

 

[Milktray]

I really feel for his original foster carers. Imagine caring for a baby for the first 8 months of his life and then this happening? Heartbreaking

Totally.
I also feel for his birth mother. She was by his side when they switched the machines off. Leiland was her fifth child and judging from her 'older' photos on FB, she was proud of him, regardless of the fact he wasn't in her care. I don't know the situation there but I'm guessing it wasn't a forced adoption.

We often moan about why an unwanted child is abused/neglected/living in poverty etc rather than put up for adoption. Yet, here we have a sad situation, where the birth mother felt she needed to put her baby up for adoption, likely to protect the interests of her, Leiland and her other children (regardless if it was 100% her choice or whether it was recommended).
The very person (people) who was entrusted with that responsibility, killed him.

 

[thaliamay]

Why are there so many people out there admitting their actions killed someone but denying murdering them? Laura Castle included. I'm seeing this alot in the news right now and can't get my head round it, if your actions killed that person then yes you bloody well are guilty of their murder. Pre meditated or not pre meditated.
And especially so in this case where the victim is a one year old baby. So vulnerable and small, so dependant, I don't buy her bullshit about not realising full on shaking this poor child would result in his death. Your huge compared to that little guy. Of course your actions would hurt him! No excuses for how she behaved time and time again. I've never heard of anyone so bloody stupid that they think you could slap a baby. Turns my stomach even typing the words.
I hope she is done for murder not manslaughter.

 

[MissTeddy]

Yeh but his replies are disgusting. They have a biological child I wonder how she was treated

oh that’s interesting- I assumed they had been unable to conceive, hence adopting.

He does sound like a wet wipe. Who on earth can justify or support their partner ‘leathering’ a baby FFS. He should have scooped that poor boy up and returned him to social services So they could have found loving parents for him. He is guilty by association, 100%.

 

[maytoseptember]

Totally.
I also feel for his birth mother. She was by his side when they switched the machines off. Leiland was her fifth child and judging from her 'older' photos on FB, she was proud of him, regardless of the fact he wasn't in her care. I don't know the situation there but I'm guessing it wasn't a forced adoption.

We often moan about why an unwanted child is abused/neglected/living in poverty etc rather than put up for adoption. Yet, here we have a sad situation, where the birth mother felt she needed to put her baby up for adoption, likely to protect the interests of her, Leiland and her other children (regardless if it was 100% her choice or whether it was recommended).
The very person (people) who was entrusted with that responsibility, killed him.

I wouldn’t be so sure that it wasn’t a “forced” adoption. I don’t think any mother relinquishes a child anymore, the days of giving up a baby to give them a better life are long gone on this country (although it’s still a thing in conservative, religious parts of the US).

My guess is that she had a history of neglecting children, probably mental health and/or drug issues, and had children removed in the past. So when she got pregnant with Leiland, it was made clear that he would have to be removed at birth. The fact she was called to the hospital before he died was just the right thing to do. Poor woman.

 

[Tessiebear]

I can’t stop thinking about little Leiland James. He’d had surgery I believe to correct bowel problems and recovered well he was absolutely beautiful.
To have gone through so much and then had his little life snubbed out by that absolute disgrace of a ‘mother’ turns my stomach. The husband looks like a hen pecked, drip that hasn’t dropped. WTF, responding to her texts about beating a BABY with ‘you aren’t failing him, you are doing an amazing job’
Sounds like she only wanted him for the attention. She looks like a fat, lazy, spoilt blob.

 

[SticksAndStones]

If a child has been removed from parents and the LA has placed that child with people who aren't family, it is usually a 'foster' placement, rather than kinship etc.

They will have been approved by the LA to have the child placed with them, as the child would be a LAC (Looked After Child).

Foster to adopt exists, and before it goes through the courts to finalise placement it's a foster placement essentially controlled by the LA, by way of an ICO (Interim Care Order).

Leiland was placed with foster carers a couple of days after birth and then placed with the Scott’s for adoption. It will take a while before the adoption order was granted. Poor baby Social Services, the adoption agency and support workers all highlighted difficulties within the prospective adoptive family and they still left him there.
There is a little girl living with them. Whether that child is their own or a child they were “looking after” her life will also be ruined by these monsters. God only knows what she has witnessed

Baby Leiland was removed from his birth family - for whatever reason - and handed to two sadistic monsters by the very people who are paid to protect him. What is going on with Child Protection Services! Another review where”lessons will be learnt” coming up. The trouble is lessons are never learnt and more children will lose their lives. A major overhaul of Childrens Services throughout the UK is needed NOW!

 

[Keelz11]

Ah do they. Wow, that’s certainly surprised me. You would think they’d be well versed in what to expect. With my second, I handled the rough nights and feeding way better and knew it was going through the motions. If she’s had a child already you’d certainly think she’d have some degree of motherly care already ingrained in her. Makes you wonder whether she harmed the other child.


The father has not even been in prison whilst awaiting trial?

Nope out on bail on full pay from work

 

[Melissa25xo]

I don’t know why but this case has really got to me, I have a baby the same age. What an absolute rat she is I honestly hope she rots, how can anyone hurt a little baby like he was a baby he depended on her for everything and she betrayed him and him as well as for leathering a baby makes me sick

 

[Tofino]

Those videos are incredibly sad. You don’t even have to have a bond with the baby to just want to pick him up and cuddle him! I don’t know how someone can be so heartless. The rocking is very disturbing in a child that age. It just shows how neglected the poor boy was. This was emotional abuse too, not just physical. I hope she rots in hell.

 

[Tessiebear]

He was so beautiful and so precious
My heart breaks for his poor biological mum, his first foster parents and all of those who loved him. I even feel sad for the extended family of those two monsters who apparently loved him.
Who could harm a hair on a child - a defenceless baby’s; head?! It hurts my heart and makes me feel ill.
They had so many chances to hand him back! I can’t comprehend it

 

[Treesy19]

They hit him every day then. This isn’t a momentary loss of temper, this is them (it’s suggesting mainly her isn’t it) being systematically cruel to him and hurting him. Wasn’t he only like 13 months when he died as well. He was just being a baby who couldn’t talk and fully express himself. Why were they slapping and tapping him? Why punishing him?! The doctors have listed all the bruises. That’s a lot for a 13 mth old. I’ve had all boys who are crazy, but at that age they’re hardly moving fast are they to warrant that many injuries. Was he even an established walker, 13 mths is maybe a toddle but a lot are not walkers as such. You’re gonna get bruises to the knee, the odd random on the back, the forehead etc. Not so much inside of the mouth, cheeks, lip and ear. My toddler at the moment has a small bruise on his cheek and I reckon he’s got that from big brother ie not accidental as such. Mine have fallen off sofas yet not received any bruises - I can’t see how you could get them easily. Even there was a coffee table you’d maybe get one in one area, but not multiple.
I hope they both get what they deserve. They are cruel and have hurt him. Should have handed him back as soon as they began texting nastily about him and “tapping” him!

 

[Lalla]

From reading very briefly about this I'd assumed they couldn't have their own children. And that -whilst inexcusable- their comments about him being lazy or hard work came from a place of inexperience, having the wrong expectations etc. But to find out they had their own child already?...just terrible.

I can't help thinking of Leilands biological parents. However bad his situation was with them, would it have been worse? Probably not.

I wonder if they were just fostering for the money? Because why else would they not just say it wasn't working out? My mum had a good friend who fostered a few children over the years, she definitely didn't do it for the money but always said there were a fair few foster carers who did

 

[Keelz11]

I’m pretty sure it was said that he wasn’t walking yet (which isn’t remotely unusual at that age) and they complained that he was fat and lazy. No doubt it goes back to how much they resented him wanting to be picked up and carried around.

Both fat themselves they are disgusting

 

[GingerJones50]

Yep not found an update yet either.

I absolutely don’t think social services could have foreseen this one. So I hope the media don’t whip up a frenzy and criticise SS tbh.

We don’t live in the film Minority Report where crimes can always be foreseen and stopped. Blame here down to her temper and the husband not stepping in - he had the know here.

I don’t think we can say that from the evidence so far. It’s been from social workers mainly so won’t be critical of themselves. And family who are likely to be restrained on the problems.

Reporting today has been very, very poor. There is only one report from the BBC given in the post above. It was the neighbours who said Laura Castle constantly screamed, swore and shouting abuse so loud they could hear her over the TV - daily. They also heard Laura smacking Leiland and toys being thrown. So seems social workers lacked curiosity given Castle was telling them she didn’t love Leiland and SWs were expressing doubts the adoption would last, which is very unusual in baby adoptions.

I noticed one of the SWS thought Laura & Leiland’s relationship was okay because Leiland asked Laura to pick him up. However the social workers also said Laura had been told Leiland’s stomach issues (he’d had stomach surgery) had been settled by his earlier foster mother by picking Leiland up and walking around holding him. After that Laura began complaining to the social workers Leiland wouldn’t stand because he had been picked up and carried too much by his earlier foster mother so wanted her to carry him all the time which was burdensome.

Given that, Leiland asking to be held by Laura shouldn’t have been seen as a sign of a bond & affection as SWs were aware it frustrated Laura and Leiland habitually asked to be picked up because it was what he wanted due to being used to it in his previous home and to settle his painful stomach. Leiland was probably desperately trying to stop tummy pain and asking to be picked up out of ingrained habit. Given what the neighbours are saying about Laura’s behaviour I find it very difficult to believe there weren’t other warning signs about their bond that were ignored.

There is a little girl living with them. Whether that child is their own or a child they were “looking after” her life will also be ruined by these monsters. God only knows what she has witnessed

I think it’s probably their bio daughter. A friend had a baby by fertility treatment then adopted her 2nd child. What I learned from her is that adoption seen as a service for childless people have kids anymore. So few babies are adopted today, social services can pick and choose adopters and choose the best parents from the child’s point of view. It has to be extreme for babies to be removed at birth, they’re usually from very bad backgrounds and likely to have issues in the future. Because of that they prefer experienced parents who’ve already reared an infant as they’re likely to be better able to cope. I think it’s highly likely she’s their bio child.

In trials now other children in the household aren’t referred to at all. It seems very likely that when the Castles said they kept Leiland because ‘other members of the family loved him’ they are referring to the daughter. I find that really sad. Partly because they seem to have viewed Leiland like her toy, but also because that girl obviously adored Logan and must have been seeing terrible things happen to him. As you say, she must have seen awful things. Incredibly sad. At least she will be safe now.