Inquest Concludes Father Killed Five-Year-Old Son and Himself During Visit

An inquest has revealed that a father, whose ex-partner had been granted custody of their son, killed the five-year-old child before taking his own life during their initial unsupervised visit. Timotej Borrett and his father, Lee Borrett, aged 41, were discovered deceased at a residence in Hopyard Close, located on the periphery of Leicester, on 24 July 2023. Timotej had been visiting Borrett, who was expected to return the child to his mother by 19:00 BST on that same day. Senior coroner Prof Catherine Mason determined on Tuesday that Timotej was unlawfully killed by his father, who subsequently committed suicide. Prof Mason stated that Borrett was “responsible for the death of Timotej by obstruction to his airway”. During the inquest, held at Leicester Coroner’s Court, it was disclosed that a recent decision had been made for Timotej, whom his family called Timmy, to reside with his mother, Veronika Phillips, in Earl Shilton, Leicestershire. He was scheduled to visit his father on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Ms Phillips had dropped off her son with Borrett on Monday morning. When Timotej was not returned and Borrett did not respond to her messages, she contacted Leicestershire Police at 19:34. According to Prof Mason, Ms Phillips then proceeded to Borrett’s residence with her new partner, where they observed the curtains were drawn, prompting another call to the police. Testimony at the inquest indicated that Timotej’s mother attempted to reach Borrett’s brother, who also resided at the property but was absent at that moment. Upon his arrival after 20:00, he first went inside the house without Ms Phillips and her partner. Seconds later, he reopened the door and requested assistance. The inquest was informed that Ms Phillips discovered her son on his bed in an upstairs bedroom and tried to rouse him, after which an ambulance was summoned. Although paramedics endeavored to administer medical aid to Timotej, he was pronounced deceased at 21:07. Borrett was also discovered dead within the premises, with a note attached to his clothing. The inquest further heard that a police investigation uncovered that Borrett had pre-scheduled emails to be sent to his sister at a later date. In a statement honoring her son, released by Leicestershire Police, Ms Phillips characterized Timotej as “a light in our lives, full of curiosity, kindness, and wonder”. She stated: “At just five years old, he had a fascination with planets, often gazing at the stars and asking the most amazing questions. “His love for countries and his ability to name over 180 flags amazed everyone who met him.”Timotej had a heart so big it could hold the whole world – he was always sharing, always understanding, and always full of love. “He will forever be our little explorer of the universe.”” Individuals impacted by the subjects discussed in this report may reach out to the BBC Action Line. Updates from BBC Leicester are available on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Story suggestions can be submitted to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or through WhatsApp at 0808 100 2210. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for material found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external links is available.