In a three-minute phone call, Hughes pretended they spoke about balloons for a birthday party but more likely, prosecutors suggest, he acted as he routinely did when Tustin reported Arthur's behaviour to him: in a rage, with threats, and encouraging violence. Hughes told police he 'turned into a monster' during lockdown and that 'Arthur took the brunt of my frustrations unfairly'. Detectives used the footage to establish that Arthur spent almost all day in the hallway in the run-up to his death. Tustin saw Arthur as an enemy and threat to her relationship with Hughes. Dr. John Hughes, MD, Family Medicine | Norwalk, OH | WebMD Thursday 2 December 2021 17:54, UK The jury was told medical evidence revealed the boy died from "head trauma inflicted on him by an adult" and the most likely cause was that he had been "vigorously shaken and his head banged repeatedly against a hard surface". ", "The chilling parallels between the murders of Star Hobson and Arthur Labinjo-Hughes", "Star Hobson and Arthur Labinjo-Hughes: why were chances to intervene missed? [11] She is being held at HMP Peterborough. One witness said the previously happy and healthy boy looked "as though he were broken" on the day of his death. "At the time I thought I was doing the right thing by my unborn child. As he died, she did nothing save take a photo and send it to Hughes. All it did was underline her inhumane treatment of her step-son. She presented herself as a victim. Thomas Hughes claims girlfriend 'drove wedge' between him and son Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Photograph: West Midlands Police/PA Child. Ms Kavanagh said both children indicated they felt they were 'very happy and very safe'. [8] Twelve minutes later, after phoning Thomas Hughes, Tustin called 999 and told medics that he "fell and banged his head and while on the floor banged his head another five times". CEO and Legal Counsel. Six-year-old Arthur Labinjo-Hughes tragically died last year in the hallway of a home in Cranmore Road, Shirley in the West Midlands, after suffering from catastrophic head injuries. The prosecutor said Ms Tustin recorded more than 200 audio files of Arthur in "various stages of distress". She claimed it was in fact Arthur who was the aggressor in the house, that he had treated the couple badly, causing them "daily stress". In another, the fear stricken boy yelled 'daddy's going to throw me out the window'. 'C***' was a favourite insult of the foul-mouthed pair. The hallway where Arthur's heart stopped beating is where he had spent most of his time during lockdown. She would send them to Hughes when he was out of the home to 'report' his son's behaviour. We're first for breaking news in Yorkshire - and now we have a Facebook group where you can keep up to date. Tustin said at one point to Thomas that "I want you but I don't want him". The six-year-old died in hospital from a brain injury after he was found fatally injured at a house in Shirley, Solihull. Notes from hospital doctors who treated him after his collapse revealed he had also been "poisoned with salt" and had suffered extensive bruising. Hughes was found guilty of child cruelty counts 2 (standing in isolation) and 3 (assaults). He portrayed himself as dim-witted, lacking in confidence and completely submissive to Tustin's assertive control. Arthur Labinjo-Hughes. BBC News, West Midlands. ", READ MORE: Guilty: 'Evil' dad and stepmum killed little Arthur Labinjo-Hughes after months of torture and abuse. There was a consensus that it was 'inconceivable' Arthur could have caused them himself. UK - Arthur Labinjo Hughes, 6, killed, dad & friend from www.websleuths.com Trial begins as court hears parents 'murdered' him after months of abuse | daily mail online another heartbreaking . I don't want Emma to suffer.". Then, he was really quite healthy looking, they told the court. She flip-flopped from her original account to police; from being in the hallway when he supposedly 'cracked' his own head off the floor to being elsewhere, from the first of four cracks being the loudest to the last of them being the loudest, from being present when Arthur apparently knocked himself out to being somewhere else. West 3301 Mercy Health Blvd. Bodycam footage from emergency services shows Tustin crying as she claimed Arthur repeatedly headbutted the floor. Both are also accused of two counts of child cruelty by assault on multiple occasions and also by withholding food and/or drink. Arthur died in hospital in the early hours of the following day. Far from being a loving father, he completely let down his vulnerable son. On 15 June, Tustin took Arthur with her to spend most of the day at her hairdresser's house. He stated he 'probably' inflicted injuries to his son and hit him with a slipper causing him to bash his head. Mr Hankin said emergency services were called to reports Arthur had "sustained a self-inflicted head injury at his stepmother's home address", with paramedics noting a "large bruise" on his forehead. The camera also recorded the couple and Tustin's children enjoying food and leisure activities which Arthur was not allowed to participate in. Arguably the most heart-breaking clip to watch was Arthur being so weak on the morning of his collapse that he barely had the strength to carry his bedding out of the living room, where he had been forced to sleep. "Just end him," one message read. Joshua Hughes - CEO and Legal Counsel - LinkedIn Dr Coulthard concluded Arthur was salt poisoned stating it could have occurred incrementally but that he would have had to have been given a large dose of the kitchen condiment in the hours immediately before he collapsed. This is on me and on me only. Hughes allegedly spoke of putting him up for adoption. In these clips, the child could be heard crying for his grandmother and uncle, and at one point said "nobody loves me". The next day, a social worker went to visit Hughes and Tustin's household. Furious inmates 'toss salt at killer stepmum' who tortured Arthur Labinjo-Hughes", "Arthur Labinjo-Hughes: Father and stepmother's prison sentences to be reviewed", "Arthur Labinjo-Hughes: 'A bruise for every day of lockdown' left on body of boy killed by father and stepmother", "Arthur Labinjo-Hughes: Emma Tustin sentenced to life and Thomas Hughes 21 years for torturing and killing six-year-old", High Court Judgement: Regina - v Emma Tustin & THomas Hughes Sentencing Remarks, "Arthur Labinjo-Hughes: Killer father has sentence increased", "Arthur Labinjo-Hughes: review launched into six-year-old's murder", "Arthur Labinjo-Hughes: National inquiry into boy's death", "Timeline of the key missed opportunities leading up to Arthur's death revealed", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Murder_of_Arthur_Labinjo-Hughes&oldid=1143956977, This page was last edited on 10 March 2023, at 23:33. Mrs Hughes spotted extensive bruising on her grandson's back and he'd told her Tustin had slammed him into the stairs, calling him an "ugly, horrible brat". ", "The little boy who stood no chance with two killer parents and a hateful stepmum", "Arthur Labinjo-Hughes: A life cut short by cruelty", "Social worker said 'play' caused boy's bruises weeks before his death, jury told", "Arthur Labinjo-Hughes: What do we know about his life and death? Tustin was equally vile. She was also found guilty of child cruelty counts 4 (deprivation of food and drink) and 5 (salt poisoning). Tustin pleaded guilty to child cruelty counts 2 and 3. Several parallels were noted between the cases such as both children being killed by their parent's new partner, having extended family who tried to help them, and being of known concern to the authorities. Thomas Hughes and his girlfriend Emma Tustin are jointly accused of murdering Arthur Labinjo-Hughes at her home in Shirley, Solihull, on 17 June 2020. I didn't want to lose another child and the only way I could protect that child was to try and protect Emma from it all and take the blame for myself.". Also involved are Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Trust, Barnardo's, Spurgeon's children's charity, the Springfield project in Sparkhill, St Paul's Community Development Trust and Your Local Pantry, which runs food hubs in 12 locations across Birmingham and the Black Country. [5] The assault is believed to have lasted one minute. In the witness box told the jury he was simply covering for Tustin, who he now 'hated' and saw in a 'completely different light'. Arthur Labinjo-Hughes: Man accused of helping to murder son 'probably Arthur died in Solihull in June 2020. VideoThe secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure, LGBT troops take love for Eurovision to front line, Why an Indian comedian is challenging fake news rules. Warning - this article contains distressing content. Tustin would record more than 200 clips of him in distress, including two particularly harrowing recordings where Arthur is heard begging in tears, "I want you to feed me, no one's going to feed me" and crying "no one loves me". A man accused of murdering his son said he "probably" valued his partner's love and affection over his child's welfare. ", Statistics for England suggested that there had been a 20% decrease in referrals to local authorities' children's departments but a 20% increase in reported cases of child harm and a 19% increase in child deaths. [8] Meanwhile, the COVID-19 pandemic led to the closure of all schools in the UK and a national lockdown by the end of March 2020. He was made to sleep there even when the other children slept elsewhere. Did this woman die because her genitals were cut? Thomas Hughes decided to take his son to live with his new partner Emma Tustin and her children during COVID-19 related restrictions. Tustin and Hughes manipulated visitors, told them his bruises were down to play. Sentences for killers of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes to be reviewed for It is alleged Ms Tustin carried out a fatal . So theres a big lesson there, instantly about if there is a crisis, there are children who are going to slip from view and we have to make sure they have the protection, which does need face to face contact. realtor.com | Homes for Sale, Apartments & Houses for Rent He told the jury he 'reluctantly' maintained Arthur's punishment to avoid arguments admitting he put Tustin's 'love and attention' above his son's welfare. Even so, Ive done my best with that kid.. Below we have listed the significant evidence and developments in the trial. He said he 'put Arthur in this position' and that he set the rules in the house which Tustin only followed to a 'certain degree'. Tustin's hairdresser Catherine Milhench, known as "Affy", and her husband Tobias Jarman were among the last people to see Arthur alive. Michelle Hull, safeguarding lead at Dickens Heath Community primary school, contacted social services but was told they had no concerns. "I effectively killed my son. The horrifying details that convinced the jury in Arthur Labinjo-Hughes I realise now I made it a lot harder for myself.". In the space of just 18 months Arthur went from a bright and bubbly boy to a weak and emaciated one terrified for his life. She branded the couple cold, calculating and wicked. The Child Safeguarding Partnership said it would be "inappropriate" to comment ahead of its findings, but said the "terrible tragedy has had a shocking impact on Arthur's family and across the whole community". The boy was mistreated over the course of several months by his father, Thomas Hughes, and his father's partner, Emma Tustin. Thomas Hughes is referred to using his full-name throughout this article to make clear the distinction from his son. She explained she was told Arthur had a playfight with Tustin's son which resulted in both being hurt. [23][13] Police officers examined hundreds of videos, audio files and photos found on Tustin's and Hughes' mobile phones, and analysed thousands of messages they sent each other. Ms Tustin took pictures and recorded audio clips and videos of Arthur being punished, sending them to Mr Hughes, jurors were told. Something went wrong, please try again later. The camera also picked up isolated incidents of bullying Hughes and cruel Tustin slapping Arthur round the back of the head and holding him by the scruff of the neck. She said she was told Arthur and Tustins son had been playfighting with boxing gloves resulting in the bruises, and said she could see a single faint bruise in the middle of Arthurs back. Is climate change killing Australian wine? Emma Tustin, Thomas Hughes and Arthur Labinjo-Hughes. Three donation days, held at Edgbaston to take in new and nearly new donations of gifts and books, are now ended. He told the jury he 'reluctantly' maintained Arthur's punishment to avoid arguments admitting he put Tustin's 'love and attention' above his son's welfare. The proceedings exceeded two months and were even halted by a fire alarm and Covid-19 alert along the way. However Tustin repeatedly said the police would 'put it on both of us' and added: "None of us are going to walk away from this." Just a few months later, he was gaunt, malnourished and too weak to hold a glass of water Mr Jarman had smuggled him. You did this to him.". Scheduling: (513) 612-1111 Tragic Arthur sobbed 'nobody loves me' to uncle weeks before he Ms Kavanagh repeated she had 'no safeguarding concerns' about Arthur. His father Thomas Hughes, 29, and his former partner Emma Tustin, 32, are. Both defendants denied being responsible, or even knowing salt poisoning was a factor in Arthur's death until much later. 20 April 2020: Joanne Hughes told Arthurs school about the referral to social services. Hughes was found not guilty on counts 4 and 5. "At the time I thought I was doing the right thing by my unborn child. Boy, 6, was 'poisoned' with so much salt he was 'unable to fight Giving evidence on the sixth day of the couple's trial, Tustin's hairdresser . Anne Longfield, the former children's commissioner for England, said:[18], "a lot of the services went on to the screens for children, and this child in particular, Arthur, wasnt in school. He was found not guilty on counts 4 (deprivation of food and drink) and 5 (salt poisoning). The jury was told that Arthur's head injuries were comparable to someone who had been in a serious car accident. He lived with his mother, Olivia Labinjo-Halcrow, after she and Hughes split not long before his second birthday. Shortly after 13:00 that day, the family was back home. Not long after he weakly put away his bedding on 16 June, Tustin took Arthur to her appointment at Ms Milhench's home. Arthur Labinjo-Hughes, six, died of a brain injury on 17 June 2020. Prosecutors noted how the day Arthur was fatally injured, there was barely an indication that he even lived at number 39 Cranmore Road, such was his isolation from the rest of the family. Arthur's father Thomas Hughes and mother Olivia Labinjo-Halcrow had shared custody of the child, until her arrest for killing her own partner in February 2019. Arthur Labinjo-Hughes report: children still at risk in Solihull, Onein five child abuse images found online last year were category A report, Covid lockdowns created online backdoor for child abusers, says charity, Arthur Labinjo-Hughes: review launched into six-year-olds murder, Painful Ofsted report in Herefordshire leads to calls for resignations, Sentences for killers of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes to be reviewed for leniency, Child protection agencies failed son of drug addict, review finds, Ionce looked up to my uncle, the Jesuit priest and teacher then I discovered the monstrous truth, PMpledges to leave no stone unturned in review of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes death, Halving time asylum seeker children held in UK hotels not enough, say charities, Arthur Labinjo-Hughes: woman jailed for life for murder of stepson, six. I'm guilty of all of this. For police investigating the case, nothing short of evil suffices to describe Tustin. Most populous nation: Should India rejoice or panic? She flip-flopped from her original account to police; from being in the hallway when he supposedly 'cracked' his own head off the floor to being elsewhere, from the first of four cracks being the loudest to the last of them being the loudest, from being present when Arthur apparently knocked himself out to being somewhere else. Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. He told the jury "Arthur was made to sleep on the living room floor" at Ms Tustin's home in Solihull and after his death, "a duvet was found in a cupboard under the stairs". Tustin had bizarrely claimed she had a spare camera left over from putting up CCTV outside due to 'problems with neighbours coming into the garden and putting holes in her clothes'. ", "How lockdown was beginning of the end for tragic Arthur - timeline", "Coronavirus: UK schools, colleges and nurseries to close from Friday", "Coronavirus: Strict new curbs on life in UK announced by PM", "UK launches major review into murder of six-year-old Arthur Labinjo-Hughes", "Arthur Labinjo-Hughes: Father and girlfriend found guilty over death of six-year-old boy", "Stepmother and father convicted of killing Arthur Labinjo-Hughes", "Arthur Labinjo-Hughes: Candlelit vigil for murdered boy", "Arthur Labinjo-Hughes: Football club's tribute to young fan", "Arthur Labinjo-Hughes: Football pays tribute to murdered Birmingham City fan after killers jailed", "Social workers forced out of homes due to abuse after Arthur Labinjo-Hughes case", "Arthur Labinjo-Hughes: vulnerable children 'slipped from view' in pandemic", "How much did lockdown help Arthur Labinjo-Hughes' killers escape notice? Minutes later, Arthur was unconscious. From prison, Arthur's mother said the memory of her young son she would treasure the most was his smile. Tustin was repeatedly shown the living room footage from that afternoon but could not provide a consistent account of what happened at what time. The texts of his violent intent, the holes he smashed through the living room door and CCTV footage of him dragging Arthur around like an animal exposed his real 'short-tempered, wicked' nature. Tustin spent over a week in the witness box. significant evidence and developments in the trial. It was not intentional," he added. Arthur Labinjo-Hughes' grandmother discovered 'naughty chair' list with Another unusual feature was the fact Tustin obsessively recorded more than 200 voice notes of Arthur during lockdown. Arthur Labinjo-Hughes: Grandmother pays tribute to boy, six. Tustin was subsequently found guilty of child cruelty counts 4 (deprivation of food and drink) and 5 (salt poisoning). Beyond shame and sadness, the only fitting response is a promise to . He wanted Tustin, her children and their unborn baby, and not Arthur. She would send them to Hughes when he was out of the home to 'report' his son's behaviour. Additionally, both were murdered during the COVID-19 pandemic which was argued to have made it easier for their worsening condition to be hidden from others. [8] At the time of his death, a medical review found that he was covered in 130 bruises, that he had been poisoned with salt, and that the extent of his injuries were compared to torture. Shown footage demonstrating how Arthur was made to spend all day in the hallway and then sleep on the living room floor he said: "You are not here to watch television and comment on it. Tustin regularly stated she could not explain her behaviour and claimed it was only now she was 'out of the situation' she could see how bad things were at the time. Tustin could be heard 'policing' Arthur in some of the clips barking 'stand still, stand still'. Hughes was found not guilty on counts 4 and 5. Arthur Labinjo-Hughes: Father cut up six-year-old son's football shirts as punishment before partner killed the boy, court told Hughes was not present for the alleged fatal assault but is accused of aiding and abetting his son's murder - a charge he denies. Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Arthur was taken to the Birmingham Childrens hospital and later that evening Tustin and Hughes were arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm with intent. At one point he said: "The thing is how can I plead not guilty? Please don't keep Emma in custody. She carried him around the house, plotting how best to arrange him to fit her deception that she was blameless. Saturday 4 December 2021 06:21, UK . According to his grandmother, Arthur was initially 'nervous' but quickly became a 'happy, well-rounded child'. In reply Judge Wall said the police interviews were only part of the evidence they were to hear. I don't want other people to suffer for my ignorance, my neglect. When I tried to get him off the floor, he headbutted me and hes hit me and kicked me, she said. Mr Hankin branded her a 'pitiless, cruel woman' who 'hated' Arthur. BrumWish 2021 aims to get thousands of Christmas gifts to young children in need across our city - the homeless, the vulnerable, kids in care and kids who have little. His barrister forewarned the jury they would not see him 'cry for himself'. 'Poisoned' boy, 6, struggles to stand before dad and stepmom 'tortured Later that evening, Thomas belted Arthur's legs and later told Tustin to "Just end him".
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