A father killed his five-year-old son on his first unsupervised visit after losing custody of him, before taking his own life, an inquest has heard. Timotej Borrett, known as Timmy, was suffocated by father Lee Borrett at his home in Leicester just days after he had been placed in the full custody of his mother, Veronika Phillips, last year.
![[The body of Lee Borrett, 41, was found alongside that of his five-year-old son Timmy]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/17/14/73629403-14201905-The_body_of_Lee_Borrett_41_was_found_alongside_that_of_his_five_-a-48_1734447200743.jpg)
His mother had dropped him off at his father's home at around 8.50am on July 24 last year for the visit - and rang police at 7.34pm that evening when Timmy did not arrive home. Their bodies were discovered by Borrett's brother who had let himself into the property after being contacted by Ms Phillips.
![[The bodies were found by police at a property in Hopyard Close, Leicester, on July 24 last year]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/17/14/73603315-14201905-The_bodies_were_found_by_police_on_Monday_at_a_property_in_Hopya-a-50_1734447288884.jpg)
An inquest at Leicester Coroner's Court concluded that Timmy had been unlawfully killed, and that Borrett's death was suicide. It was also revealed there had been a history of domestic abuse when the couple were still together, with Borrett described as having 'anger management' issues.
![[Timmy's mother, Veronica, collapsed in the street after hearing the tragic news]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/17/14/73629405-14201905-Timmy_s_mother_Veronica_collapsed_in_the_street_after_hearing_th-a-49_1734447284452.jpg)
Coroner Dr Catherine Mason said: 'Detectives concluded Lee Borrett was responsible for the death of Timotej Borrett and Lee Borrett was responsible for taking his own life.'. The tragedy took place shortly after a draft judgement had been made in relation to Timmy's care, which ruled that he would live with his mother but visit his father's home three days a week during term time.
![[Officers found the pair unconscious after being called to the address on Hopyard Close in the south of the city - a police car pictured outside a home]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/17/14/73598149-14201905-Officers_found_the_pair_unconscious_after_being_called_to_the_ad-a-51_1734447318004.jpg)
