Leiland Corkill Wiki

                                              Leiland Corkill Biography

Who was Leiland Corkill ?

A couple will face trial in April over the death of a one-year-old boy they were trying to adopt.

Leiland Corkill died in hospital on January 7 last year after emergency services were called to an address in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria the day before.

On Friday, Laura Castle, 38, of Barrow, denied Leiland’s murder and also pleaded not guilty to an alternative charge of involuntary manslaughter.

Death

Scott Castle, 35, also of Barrow, has pleaded not guilty to causing or allowing Leiland’s death.

Both defendants appeared in Preston Crown Court on Friday, where they also denied child cruelty allegations. They will go on trial on April 26.

After Leiland’s death, Cumbria County Council confirmed that local authorities had taken care of the boy and that he was now placed with the Castles.

The one-year-old boy, originally from Whitehaven in Cumbria, had been cared for by his natural mother, Laura Corkill, just two days after his birth.

Paramedics were called to a home in Barrow-in-Furness on January 6 where they found Leiland with an injury, prompting them to call the police.

He was transferred to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital from Furness General Hospital for specialist medical care due to his critical condition.

Tragically, Leiland passed away on the afternoon of January 7, and detectives launched a murder investigation.

She was still in the care of Cumbria County Council at the time of her death.

John Readman, chief executive of Cumbria County Council

It is a requirement of the Adoption and Childhood Act 2002 that a child lives with their adoptive parents before an application for an adoption order can be filed.

When a child is placed with adopters, the adopters assume the responsibility of the parents, but the child also remains ‘in the care’ of the local authority until an adoption order is granted.

John Readman, chief executive of Cumbria County Council, said last November: “This is a deeply distressing case and our thoughts are with the boy’s family.”

“We can confirm that he was cared for by the local authority and at the time of his death he was placed with foster parents.”

He added: “There is also an ongoing police investigation so we cannot comment further at this time.”

Leiland Corkill Quick and Facts

• Leiland Corkill died in January 2021 after paramedics were called to an address
• Had been in the care of Laura and Scott Castle in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria
• On Friday, Laura Castle denied murder and pleaded not guilty to manslaughter
• Scott Castle pleaded not guilty to causing or allowing Leiland’s death
• Leiland was taken into care from mother Laura Corkill two days after his birth