To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. Six-year-old Arthur Labinjo-Hughes, from Solihull, was abused, neglected and killed by his stepmother, Emma Tustin, and his father, Thomas Hughes. stages of development of tropical cyclone ingrid stages of development of tropical cyclone ingrid He just didn't care. Read more: Jury told stepmother accused of six-year-old's murder was 'coercive'. An expert suggested he was given at least 34 grams of salt - equivalent to six teaspoons - leading to hospital readings which were 'off the scale'. After I calmed down I felt ashamed. A woman accused of killing a boy of six claimed she 'heard a crack' and then saw him on all fours 'dropping his head' on the concrete floor. Arthur Labinjo-Hughes death was caused by a severe head injury. This thread is archived . As well as being snared by her own recordings, Tustin was captured in dramatic bodycam footage crying fake tears after Arthur collapsed. The boy was tortured by Thomas Hughes and Emma Tustin, eventually dying of a head. The 32-year-old also told. Jurors yesterday watched CCTV of Tustin tucking into McDonald's while Arthur was left in a hallway for 14 hours and forced to sleep on the floor. Torturing a kid for months, neighbours reported them to the social, yet still. A serious case review has now been launched into the shortcomings - including that Tustin was already known to childrens services over previous concerns of domestic violence. She had already taken a picture of stricken Arthur lying in a hallway after inflicting the fatal blow. "And it is early days, but I can tell you this, we will leave absolutely no stone unturned to find out exactly what went wrong in that appalling case," he added. A date for the hearing at the Court of Appeal is yet to be set. Find out about the Energy Bills Support Scheme, Cornwall and West Devon mining landscape: review of SOUV, Remuneration information of the CDEI advisory board. ", Hughes replies: "Just gag him or something. West Midlands Police has vowed to spend more money on protecting at-risk children after it faced fresh criticism in a new report into the Arthur Labinjo-Hughes tragedy. Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in, Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile. Why?". ", Hughes claimed Arthur eventually felt "untouchable" whenever he left the home and said: "Emma refused to physically do anything to him. On another recording, from more than a month before Arthurs murder, he could be heard screaming and moaning: Im scared, Im scared.. He added that he may not have noticed Arthur hitting his head after he had slapped him. One of the most troubling aspects, he added, was that Tustin's own two children "lived a perfectly happy life in that house" just yards from where Arthur was subjected to unthinkable abuse. In one she writes: "Backchatting me for joke threw himself on the floor shouting abuse. Emma Tustin claimed Arthur Labinjo-Hughes 'knocked him f****** self out' at her home in Cranmore Road, Shirley, Solihull, on June 16 last year - when he suffered fatal injuries which led to his death hours later. Towards the end of the distressing clip, little Arthur edges out of the room while limping on his bruised legs. Why?. Transcripts of Thomas Hughes' police interviews were read out at Coventry Crown Court yesterday (Thursday) where he and his ex-partner Emma Tustin stand accused of Arthur's murder. Despite his comments, no action was taken and Hughes was believed by staff when he told them the youngster was "doing grand" during a call in lockdown. Dr Dixon said: 'The idea of standing for more than 13 hours would seem interminable. Tustin answered: I did get it wrong, very wrong. She called social services and offered to send them the photos but told the court they didnt want to see them. Even Arthurs stepmother Emma Tustin admitted in court that it was horrendous to listen to and watch footage of him captured on her mobile phone and CCTV cameras inside her lounge. Is climate change killing Australian wine? You can change your cookie settings at any time. After his death in June 2020 he was found to have 130 injuries. Prosecutors alleged Ms Tustin was responsible for the fatal blows inflicted on the six-year-old, after he had been weakened by months of physical and mental abuse, salt poisoning and starvation. ", Dad had 'gone to town' on 'pleasant' boy then cried in shower, court told, Arthur Labinjo-Hughes murder accused told cops of 'spiralling abuse', Tustin described feeling 'disgusted' at Hughes saying to his son: "Don't worry Arthur about all the things you've done everything will be alright. The judge told the pair "the cruel and inhuman treatment of Arthur was a deliberate decision by you to brush off his cries for help as naughtiness". Thomas Hughes, Arthur Labinjo-Hughes and Emma Tustin. Hughes' police interview transcripts were read to Coventry Crown Court on Thursday, while the jury was also shown footage of Hughes banging his head on the wall of his cell more than 200 times in less than one hour following his arrest, reports BirminghamLive. A spokesperson for the NSPCC said the charity was "struggling to come to terms" with what Arthur endured before his killing. Sentencing, Mr Justice Wall told Coventry Crown Court the case was "one of the most distressing and disturbing" he had ever dealt with. Hughes recalled that on June 15 last year, Tustin claimed Arthur tried to push her down the stairs at her hairdresser's home, and when he arrived Hughes hit Arthur with a slipper, which caused him to bang his head against the door. Thomas Hughes, 29, sent the harrowing text to partner Emma Tustin, 32, after she claimed Arthur Labinjo-Hughes was misbehaving. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. They also said his 'clothes looked dirty, his lips cracked, he could barely open his mouth to speak, his hair was dirty, his nails were dirty and he looked malnourished, gaunt and worn-out.'. Both offenders were. In haunting video released by police, Arthur could be seen the morning of his death waking up on the living room floor after being denied a bed. Arthur's former school in Dickens Heath, Solihull, issued a statement to say it was "supporting the children, parents and staff at this difficult time". Start your Independent Premium subscription today. To help us improve GOV.UK, wed like to know more about your visit today. He had been messaging Tustin after she took Arthur to a hair appointment at friend Catherine Milhench's house two days before his death on June 17 last year. It will take only 2 minutes to fill in. Standing, being assaulted, restricting his food, restricting his drink, assaulting him the list goes on., Although she disputed that Arthur had been denied drinks, Tustin told the jury: Even though I knew it was cruel, I convinced myself that it had to be done.. (West Midlands Police/PA), Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in, Please refresh your browser to be logged in, Haunting recordings proved Emma Tustin relished abuse of Arthur, Extra 20% off selected fashion and sportswear at Very, Get up to 10% off using the Booking.com app, 50 off over 650 using this Expedia discount code, $6 off a $50+ order with this AliExpress discount code, 10% off selected product with this eBay voucher code, Compare broadband packages side by side to find the best deal for you, Compare cheap broadband deals from providers with fastest speed in your area, All you need to know about fibre broadband, Best Apple iPhone Deals in the UK April 2023, Compare iPhone contract deals and get the best offer this April, Compare the best mobile phone deals from the top networks and brands. Though not present for the alleged fatal assault, bullying Hughes, 29, of Stroud Road, Solihull, is alleged to have aided in the murder, and also faces three counts of child cruelty. She called social services and offered to send them the photos but told the court they . The youngster's tragic final moments were even captured on camera as Tustin was seen carrying his "limp" body into the living room. Most populous nation: Should India rejoice or panic? It's just horrible. The 32-year-old has previously told jurors the first she knew of a problem with Arthur was on hearing a bang and a sickening crack from her hallway, where the boy would be forced to spend 12-14 hours a day, as part of a behavioural regime. Then you go to pick him up - and it is when you are with him, he loses consciousness. In the weeks leading up to his death, the Court found that the offenders collaborated in a campaign of cruelty intended to cause the victim significant harm and suffering. I understand how distressing the public have found this case, but it is my job to decide if a sentence appears to be unduly lenient based on the facts of the case. In interview, Hughes claimed "nothing could come between" Arthur and Tustin at first and that she treated him like her own child. He denies all charges. "You've been caught out lying haven't you?" The stepmother of a six-year-old, who died after suffering a head injury, has been found guilty of his murder. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast . ", Describing how she felt at that moment Tustin added: "I panicked, I was scared. View our online Press Pack. It shouldnt have happened, but it did.. VideoWho will get out unscathed? Judge Mark Wall praised Arthur's two grandmothers, Joanna Hughes and Madeleine Halcrow, telling both that they'd been courageous to come to court and read out victim impact statements. Arthur Labinjo Hughes was found with 125 areas of bruising on his body after dying from unsurvivable . Unfortunately my son has paid the price. There were also 20 areas of bruising on his arms and eight on his chest and stomach. ", At one stage officers told her Arthur's head injuries had been caused that day but Tustin said: "Actually he's been banging his head on anything he could find for a week-and-a-half. He said the authority would "understand, learn and fix any issues that the independent review finds and any further actions that may come about through subsequent reviews and inspections". But social workers failed to spot the bruises - despite the images being taken just 25 hours earlier. He said he was "glad justice had been done" but it was "no consolation" and it must be ensured lessons were learned. During the trial, Mr Hankin asked Tustin: You are not a camp guard following the rules are you? Asked if the boy appeared conscious she said: "He wasn't out of it completely. On the day Arthur collapsed, his dad had messaged: Put him outside, put him out with the rubbish.. The victims father, Thomas Hughes, 29, was convicted of his manslaughter. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. They also said his "clothes looked dirty, his lips cracked, he could barely open his mouth to speak, his hair was dirty, his nails were dirty and he looked malnourished, gaunt and worn-out". A normal range of sodium is around 140 mmol/L, jurors were told. Hughes then fell 'hook, line and sinker' for Tustin and moved into her home when the country entered lockdown in March 2020. The emails come out twice a day, in the morning and in the evening, with the latest news, court stories, what's on and sport from across the region. Ms Hughes said Tustin was remorseless and "the only pity she has shown is for herself". But he says "minor behaviour problems" began at Christmas 2019 which included his son telling Tustin he hated her. The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure. Safety warnings about Arthur Labinjo-Hughes by his family and neighbours were ignored, his grandfather has said. A man has been jailed for 21 years and his partner for a minimum of 29 years over the torture and killing of his six-year-old son, Arthur Labinjo-Hughes. After children's services saw Arthur on April 17, "no concerns were raised", and while photos of the bruises were sent to the police, no further action was taken, it was said. He looked like he was listening to what I was saying. She also claimed there is a "lump on his head" that he had "done to himself". Meanwhile, his dad and stepmum cooled down with ice cream in a hot tub outside. ; ; ; Boris Johnson: Tough sentences are "absolutely no consolation". I phoned Tom and said: 'Where are you? , updated I'm trying to pick him up in the process. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. Tustin denies murdering Arthur, who jurors previously heard looked broken just a few weeks after he moved into Tustins home with his father, Thomas Hughes, at the start of the March 2020 lockdown. Spent a long time this evening going through the blog of the court case and it makes my mind boggle. Explore in 3D: The dazzling crown that makes a king. ", He also cried in one clip: "Daddy's going to throw me out the window, daddy's going to throw me out the window, daddy's going to throw me out of the window.". Mr Hankin asked: How could you have believed that his behaviour was mischief and naughtiness rather than a reaction to what you were unreasonably requiring him to do?. I said 'if you behave you will be off it tomorrow.' Stepmum Tustin has been jailed for a minimum of 29 years for murdering . He loved reading and his favourite story was The Snail and the Whale. Mother-of-two Tustin allegedly killed Arthur using 'very severe force' while she was alone with him at her council house near Solihull, West Midlands. Read about our approach to external linking. Calls then went unanswered to the home in May and Arthur failed to return when schools re-opened on June 8. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. Distraught Peter Halcrow, 61, has spoken . Said he didn't care. Obviously then I just picked him up. Arthur Labinjo-Hughes' murderer aborted a baby in jail and and tried to kill herself to avoid justice, a court heard. Bruising to Arthur Labinjo-Hughes' back was "ignored" by social services, the chair of the Government's safeguarding review has told MPs. I thought: 'He's knocked him f****** self out what am I going to do'. Arthur Labinjo-Hughes, six, was allegedly killed after suffering systemic abuse which matched the 'medical definition of child torture' a court has been told. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. She replied: "I haven't been caught out.". Standing, being assaulted, restricting his food, restricting his drink, assaulting him the list goes on. During her first of multiple interviews, Tustin told police she sat in the living room when Arthur 'threw himself on the floor on all floors'. The levels were still the same seven hours after he was taken to hospital - suggesting he had consumed so much salt his stomach couldn't absorb it all at once. The boy was mistreated over the course of several months by his father, Thomas Hughes, and his father's partner, Emma Tustin. The 32-year-old said she 'froze for a second' but then realised she 'had to do something for him' despite feeling 'completely useless'. She had previously pleaded guilty to multiple counts of child cruelty. Who will get out unscathed? "You don't hear anything in my voice. If you have been affected by the issues raised in this article, help and support is available via BBC Action Line. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. ", The step-mother recalled going to her neighbour Carol Miller, a nurse, for help. She added the boy was 'on all fours just dropping his head' and that she 'heard a crack' which she later described as a noise of 'ten'. Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Six-year-old boy Arthur Labinjo-Hughes was murdered by his step mum Torture by 200 voice notes Another unusual feature was the fact Tustin obsessively recorded more than 200 voice notes of Arthur during lockdown. There will also be applause to remember him at the Blues' away match with Millwall this weekend. For other inquiries, Contact Us. ', The comments below have not been moderated, By Warning: this piece contains content that some readers may find upsetting, in particular references to child abuse and death. The tragic youngster was subjected to a "campaign of cruelty" before his death that matched the medical definition of child torture, it is said. He seems heartbroken. It is an extensive catalogue of Arthur's wishes and feelings, they evidenced he very clearly and repeatedly articulated his hunger, his thirst, discomfort and sadness.'. 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As always you can unsubscribe at any time. He was made to stand for long periods of time and wasn't allowed to eat meals with the rest of the family. A major review into the circumstances leading up to murder of Arthur Labinjo . Speaking about the long periods of time Arthur would be made to stay in the hallway as a punishment, Hughes said: "We tried 10 minutes, think about your actions then come off it. Hughes claimed he was "devoted" to his son, but something had "gone wrong" and his son had "paid the price", prosecutors said. Video, The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure, MasterChef Australia host Jock Zonfrillo dies, Father tells how gunman opened fire on Texas home, Trump says 'great to be home' on visit to Scotland, NFL player's daughter, aged two, drowns in pool, Banana artwork in Seoul museum eaten by visitor, Indian 'killer' elephant relocated to tiger reserve. The cross-examination of Emma Tustin - who is accused of murdering Arthur Labinjo Hughes - continues at Coventry Crown Court, Subscribe today to get the latest crime headlines straight to your inbox with our free email updates. During Tustins evidence, prosecutor Jonas Hankin QC said it was clear from the tone of her commands to Arthur that she had relished being cruel towards him. "I feel hollow every day, I feel as though I'm walking around with all the lights turned off. So Arthur took the brunt of my frustrations unfairly. The offenders were sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on 3 December 2021. She photographed him lying on the floor, sending the image to his father Thomas Hughes, 29. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Family had seen bruises on Arthur's back, and he said Tustin had "called him an ugly, horrible brat" and shoved him headfirst into the stairs. Prosecutors said that despite having her phone she took 12 minutes to call 999, telling medics Arthur "fell and banged his head and while on the floor banged his head another five times". At that point, Mr Justice Mark Wall interjected and asked Tustin: I just want to be clear that Ive understood this. The dad and step-mum of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes, 6, have been jailed for killing him (Picture: PA) A national inquiry into the death of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes will take place to consider how children . Tustin and Hughes also dished out unusual punishments as the sickening abuse ramped up - cutting up his football shirts and taking his teddy away. Jonas Hankin, prosecuting, asked Tustin: Youve been caught out lying havent you?, Tustin replied: I havent been caught out.. During one audio clip recorded during the period when Arthur was being forced to stand like a statue near the front door for hour after hour, Tustin was heard loudly repeating do it, do it. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. Around two weeks before Arthurs death, Tustin recorded herself commanding Arthur to put his arms by his side. Tustin, 32, was convicted of murdering the boy after inflicting an unsurvivable brain injury on the boy during a vicious assault, while home alone with the boy, on June 16, 2020. In his closing speech, prosecutor Jonas Hankin QC said Tustin and Hughes carried out a "systematic course of conduct designed to terrorise, degrade, neglect and harm Arthur physically and psychologically". Arthurs father Thomas Hughes, 29, of Stroud Road, was convicted of manslaughter after encouraging the killing. In a 999 call made 12 minutes after Arthur was found unresponsive, Tustin claimed his head injuries were self-inflicted. Hughes told police he should have treated his six-year-old son him "like a child rather than a prisoner" and "went too far" with discipline, the jury heard. Prosecutors allege Arthur was neglected and subjected to systematic cruelty by Hughes and Tustin over many weeks, including spending hours 'segregated' in a hallway and being forced to sleep on a living room floor. "He was the light of my life, the best parts of me. CCTV from an in-lounge camera captured Arthur on the morning before he was fatally injured, appearing to limp and cry, and struggling to fold up a duvet he had been given to sleep downstairs. 'Arthur's visible injuries, his miserable physical condition and obvious despair provided each defendant with a daily reminder of the lengths to which the other would go to cause him harm. Emma Tustin, Thomas Hughes and Arthur Labinjo-Hughes, Floral tributes outside the house in Cranmore Road, Shirley in Solihull. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. In the hours before he was fatally attacked, Arthur was had eaten at least 34g of salt - the equivalent of six spoons worth. Earlier Mr Hankin asked her about the alleged salt poisoning, claiming she had laced Arthurs food in the hours before he died, causing blood sodium readings that were so extreme as to be off the normal scale of measurements. A DAD talked about digging his six-year-old son's grave and threatened to "end him" just two days before murdering him, a court heard today. ", The defendant replied: "Yes - because after I reviewed CCTV it showed I was not on the sofa and drinking my pop - that was the last thing I remembered.". As always you can unsubscribe at any time. The victim's father, Thomas Hughes, 29, was convicted of his manslaughter. The piece of paper - titled "Chair list" - included a one hour stint on a pink naughty chair if Arthur was "rude to mummy bear" [Tustin]. "If you want to make suggestions, I can't stop you doing that but that's not the case . He told officers: "I devoted my life to Arthur but something has gone wrong. Arthur Labinjo Hughes was found with 125 areas of bruising on his body after dying from unsurvivable brain injuries in June 2020. Ms Tustin later said: "I don't even remember speaking to them [the police], I was tired. Arthur Labinjo-Hughes can finally be laid to rest after his father Thomas agreed to release the six-year-old's body for burial. Monday 6 December 2021 18:01, UK. 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Mr Hankin asked her: Youve changed your account havent you?, Tustin replied: Yes - because after I reviewed CCTV it showed I was not on the sofa and drinking my pop - that was the last thing I remembered., Mr Hankin took Tustin to her police interview transcript - the contents of which are agreed by Tustins own defence team - and asked her: Weve just read it., Tustin replied: Yes, I know that youve read it but that is not what I said.. "Dad is going to throw me out the windowdad is a c***". You know full well that if you were to give a child repeated doses of salt, at the very least it would make his food inedible?. I was frightened. However, in court she told how Arthur was already unconscious after the crack - adding that Arthur hit out at her some moments previously, in a separate incident. You have accepted additional cookies. The ULS scheme only applies to certain sentences given in the Crown Court in England and Wales. Speaking about the case, the Attorney General said: My thoughts are with all those who loved Arthur Labinjo-Hughes. Souness fights back tears as he announces emotional retirement on Sky Sports, Sky Sports' Martin Tyler slammed for 'racist' comment about Spurs star Son, Iconic high street favourite to return after 4 years as shoppers 'can't wait', Olly Murs breaks down on stage over Caroline Flack 'regret', News Group Newspapers Limited in England No.