A WOMAN accused of murdering a boy she was trying to adopt will forever be known as a ‘baby killer’, a court was told.

Leiland-James Corkill died aged 13 months in January 2021, a day after suffering brain injuries at the home of Laura and Scott Castle in Barrow.

Barristers for both Laura and Scott Castle made their closing addresses during today’s proceedings at Preston Crown Court on day ten of the trial.

READ MORE: Closing arguments of Barrow BAE worker Scott Castle's trial heard at Preston Crown Court

Laura Castle is accused of murdering one-year-old Leiland Corkill, who was from Whitehaven.

She has admitted unlawfully killing him but denies murder.

Scott Castle is charged with causing or allowing the death of Leiland-James.

Mrs Castle, who hoped to adopt the child alongside her husband, claims she shook Leiland-James at her home in Barrow on January 6 last year before he hit his head on the sofa and then the floor.

Live updates from Leiland Corkill trial: Day Ten

Mrs Castle’s lawyer David McLachlan QC told the court that Mrs Castle was a woman ‘on the edge’ who ‘did not intend’ to kill Leiland-James.

The court heard that the Castles had a ‘dream’ of a family when beginning the ‘long road’ to adoption after struggling to have children.

However, jurors heard that the couple struggled to bond with Leiland-James which Mrs Castle’s lawyer said she did not hide from the appropriate people.

Mr McLachlan asked the jury to consider that Mrs Castle was a ‘woman at her wits end’ who was ‘stressed’ and ‘not coping and was now becoming miserable and isolated.’

He said: "Is Laura Castle a monster? Does she have the making of murderer? Or was she a woman who put herself forward to adopt children but in reality was a woman at her wits end and was stressed and not coping, and was now becoming miserable and isolated.

"She became overwhelmed by the situation and vented her concerns to her husband who was working to provide to her family and was now on the edge.

"What was she thinking at the time? Put yourselves in her head. Was she thinking: am I going to cause him serious harm or I just want him to stop crying."

Mrs Castle wept in the dock as her lawyer said that she will ‘forever be remembered as a baby killer’.

He told the court: “That little baby may not have had the best start in life. But those entrusted in his care and, in particular Laura Castle as his main carer, she was there to protect him, she was there to love him and to provide him with that which perhaps was not given to him by his birth parents.

“And she failed in that basic duty of care to him.

"And worse than that, she is responsible for killing him. And make no doubt about it, shame on her. Because her tears in the dock will not bring that child back.

“A baby killer, I am sorry to hear, she is. What she did was horrific, killing an innocent baby but that was not what was ever intended."

The defence asked the jury to try the case on the evidence not 'emotion'.

Mr McLachlan referred to text messages exchanged between the couple in which they called Leiland-James ‘unpleasant’ insults while venting frustrations about his struggles to settle in with them.

However Mrs Castle’s lawyer invited the jury to look at the messages in context, referring to the fact that they were often sent in the early hours while Mr Castle was out working and Mrs Castle was alone with Leiland-James.

Mr McLachlan said the family was  ‘wanting to do something positive’ when they began the process of adopting.

He also showed the court pictures of the Castles and Leiland-James looking happy together, saying there were ‘good and bad days’.

The barrister told jurors that they may ‘detest’ or despise’ Mrs Castle but said that did not make her a murderer.

Referring to Mrs Castle admitting that she lied in her defence statement about what happened to Leiland-James for the trial, her lawyer said she ‘at least had the good sense to admit it now’.

He said: "You don't convict her because she's lied. Consider all the circumstances she's found herself in, the shock, the terrified nature and how ashamed she felt."

Mr McLachlan urged jurors ‘to be sure’ Mrs Castle intended to kill before they convict.

He said: "It's not a movie, it's not some drama, this is real life. You don't have the luxury of making mistakes members of the jury. You've got to be sure before you convict.”