17:46 BST 05 Nov 2021. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. Earlier in the trial, a medical expert said he believed Arthur was shaken and slammed with 'very severe' force immediately prior to his collapse. 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. Earlier in the trial, Ms Tustin told the court that the first she knew of the boy's injury was hearing a "bang" and a "sickening crack" in the hallway and she found him unconscious. Mr Hankin asked: You are instinctively cruel arent you? Arthur had been in the full-time care of Hughes after his mother Olivia Labinjo-Halcrow was accused of killing her new partner, Gary Cunningham, in February 2019. 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. Ms Tustin, of Cranmore Road, has admitted one count of child cruelty, but denies two other similar charges. On the day Arthur collapsed, his dad had messaged: Put him outside, put him out with the rubbish.. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Emma Tustin, 32, and 29-year-old Thomas Hughes both killed Arthur Labinjo-Hughes, who suffered an "unsurvivable" brain injury on June 16, 2020 Thomas Hughes, 29, sent. Boris Johnson: Tough sentences are "absolutely no consolation". 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. Tustin answered: I did get it wrong, very wrong. 7 most harrowing pieces of evidence that snared killer dad and stepmum over tragic Arthur Labinjo-Hughes' death. In one message, Hughes threatened to 'take his jaw off his shoulders' and told Tustin: 'Just gag him or something. Read about our approach to external linking. The youngster was found to have been battered from head to toe and his cause of death was given as a "head trauma inflicted on him by an adult". The ULS scheme only applies to certain sentences given in the Crown Court in England and Wales. Jurors heard how Arthur's death came three months after his father had moved into Tustin's home. Something went wrong, please try again later. He just didn't care. The father of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes told detectives of the moment his son looked at him and said: "I'm in danger with you." Transcripts of Thomas Hughes' police interviews were read out. The tragic youngster was subjected to a "campaign of cruelty" before his death that matched the medical definition of child torture, it is said. Arthur Labinjo-Hughes (4 January 2014 - 17 June 2020) was a six-year-old child living in the West Midlands, England who was abused and subsequently killed by his carers during the COVID-19 pandemic. ; ; ; She said: 'The description is not a plausible description of the mechanisms of the force that would be required to generate those injuries.'. Giving evidence, one doctor told jurors: Im not sure that outside of obvious traumatic situations Ive ever seen a child found dead at home with this number of injuries to the head and face.. 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. The offenders were sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on 3 December 2021. 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. Tustin has admitted child cruelty by ill-treating Arthur on multiple occasions by "forcing him to stand, isolating him within the family home, and physically or verbally intimidating him". We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. Emma Tustin was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 29 years, and Thomas Hughes was sentenced to 21 years imprisonment. Arthur Labinjo-Hughes can finally be laid to rest after his father Thomas agreed to release the six-year-old's body for burial. Even if just half of the 130 bruises on Arthur's body were the result of abuse, it would still be a mark for every day he spent being terrorised by Tustin and Hughes during lockdown. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. During Tustins five days in the witness box, she was asked to respond to recordings of Arthur in clear distress, including film of him kicking and punching himself, and audio of him repeatedly groaning in apparent pain and asking to be taken to see a doctor. Ms Tustin later said: "I don't even remember speaking to them [the police], I was tired. No further action was taken and the injury was put down to "boisterous play" with his step-siblings. He said he had wanted to "shock" rather than "hurt" his son, but that he "probably" hit him harder than intended. Emma Tustin was convicted of Arthur's murder while his father, Thomas Hughes, was found guilty of his manslaughter, Arthur was described as a cheeky boy, adored by his extended family, Olivia Labinjo-Halcrow said Arthur was "my life, my purpose, my reason for living", Joanne Hughes said Arthur should by now have been a "happy, contented, thriving seven-year-old", Ms Labinjo-Halcrow described "an ache of longing" to hold her son's hand and kiss him goodnight, Stepmum's 999 call as boy lies 'lifeless' Video, 00:00:42, Stepmum's 999 call as boy lies 'lifeless', The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure. I put my arms underneath him and he wasn't fighting me. "Then you go to pick him up - and it is when you are with him, he loses consciousness. Arthur's murderer answered: "I did follow the rules. Arthur was allegedly "segregated and isolated" for "up to 14 hours a day" and deprived of a bed, food and clothing. The stepmother ofArthur Labinjo-Hughes kept 200 audio recordings of the youngster begging for an end to his suffering before allegedly killing him, a court heard. She had already taken a picture of stricken Arthur lying in a hallway after inflicting the fatal blow. His father Thomas Hughes,. . After his death, doctors found 130 bruises on his skeletal body where he had suffered 93 different areas of injury. Mr Justice Wall referred to audio and video files Tustin had recorded of Arthur "crying, calling out for his grandparents and uncles, hitting himself in a way which anyone would recognise as a cry for help from a deeply unhappy child, and saying that nobody loved him and that he was hungry and thirsty". 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. Solihull Councils childrens services team went round to the house the following day. He was telling me a different story. I checked his pulse, checked he was breathing. 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?. Medics said this was consistent with being "vigorously shaken and his head banged repeatedly against a hard surface". I brushed it off at the time.". A father and his partner have been sentenced following the murder of the man's 6-year-old son, Arthur Labinjo-Hughes. 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. Day after day, taking multiple forms. 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To get the latest updates on crime and court cases straight to your inbox click here. ", Describing how she felt at that moment Tustin added: "I panicked, I was scared. You have accepted additional cookies. During a visit to Shropshire, he said he found it "difficult to read about the case". On another recording, from more than a month before Arthurs murder, he could be heard screaming and moaning: Im scared, Im scared.. We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services. But social workers failed to spot the bruises - despite the images being taken just 25 hours earlier. Something went wrong, please try again later. (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. At the time because of how much we had going on with Arthur, I didnt recognise it.. Winner makes history on TV talent show Project Icon, From living with incurable bowel cancer, to receiving a damehood, to her untimely death, Felicity Hannah explores what it takes to set up a business at a young age, 'We are one of the most nature-depleted countries', Meet the inspiring people who are working to restore the natural world, Brian Cox and Robin Ince discover the limits of human endurance. "That is wholly at odds with what you are now saying to the jury. "He was a beautiful boy with an infectious smile. Emma Tustin, 32, murdered the boy by. The Attorney General, Rt Hon Suella Braverman QC MP, has referred the sentences of Emma Tustin and Thomas Hughes to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme. Is climate change killing Australian wine? The six-year-old was killed by evil stepmother Emma Tustin, 32, and. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. A father and his partner have been found guilty of the killing of six-year-old Arthur Labinjo-Hughes. Tie some rope around his mouth with a sock in it or something.". Hughes then fell 'hook, line and sinker' for Tustin and moved into her home when the country entered lockdown in March 2020. Before the move, the youngster was "cherished by all" and lived a "stable" life with his father and extended family, in an annexe in the garden of Arthur's paternal grandparents. Safety warnings about Arthur Labinjo-Hughes by his family and neighbours were ignored, his grandfather has said. On Thursday, dad Thomas Hughes and stepmother Emma Tustin were convicted after . A major review into the circumstances leading up to murder of Arthur Labinjo . stages of development of tropical cyclone ingrid stages of development of tropical cyclone ingrid Meanwhile, Tustin called her stepson vile names - including Satan and Hitler - over hundreds of disgusting messages. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. 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?. They give the impression of a forlorn little boy in tears. She replied: "I haven't been caught out.". Souness fights back tears as he announces emotional retirement on Sky Sports, Sky Sports' Martin Tyler slammed for 'racist' comment about Spurs star Son, Olly Murs breaks down on stage over Caroline Flack 'regret', Fulham's Pereira stretchered off with suspected broken leg in worrying scenes, News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. VideoAn inside look at the housing crisis, The world's most endangered jobs. Arthur never returned and died eight days later. The past always catches up with you VideoThe past always catches up with you 2023 BBC. News stories, speeches, letters and notices, Reports, analysis and official statistics, Data, Freedom of Information releases and corporate reports, Emma Tustin, 32, was convicted of the murder of her 6-year-old stepson, Arthur Labinjo-Hughes. When I was alone with Arthur I froze for a second. West Midlands Police, too, has been probed by the police watchdog over its actions after worried family members raised concerns over Arthurs safety. Emma Tustin and Thomas Hughes grossly abused their position of trust and subjected an innocent child, who they should have been protecting to continued emotional and physical abuse. arthur wild cause of deathmark lizotte wife. I was frightened. Bruising to Arthur Labinjo-Hughes' back was "ignored" by social services, the chair of the Government's safeguarding review has told MPs. Obviously then I just picked him up. There were also 20 areas of bruising on his arms and eight on his chest and stomach. You can get your Coventry and Warwickshire news straight to your email inbox - and it's FREE! I picked him up and put him on the stairs. It's been a harrowing trial for all of them. 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". Hughes claimed he was "devoted" to his son, but something had "gone wrong" and his son had "paid the price", prosecutors said. Dr Dixon said Arthur would have been in a 'state of constant stress and fear'. In further text messages read to the court, Tustin continues complaining about Arthur's behaviour on June 15. Holly Christodoulou; Published: 2:44 . 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. Murder accused told police she heard Arthur Labinjo-Hughes 'crack' his own head on floor, court hears Emma Tustin denies murdering six-year-old Arthur Labinjo-Hughes at her home in. Towards the end of the distressing clip, little Arthur edges out of the room while limping on his bruised legs. If you have been affected by the issues raised in this article, help and support is available via BBC Action Line. , updated View our online Press Pack. Hughes said Arthur - whose biological mother is in prison - was worried about him not coming home and that "something switched" after the first lockdown. Read about our approach to external linking. When I was talking to him he looked like he was looking at me, he wasn't looking elsewhere. Hughes had force-fed Arthur the massive dose with water before popping to Iceland and a toy store. Dr Dixon ruled out self-inflicted or accidental injuries as the cause. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. Ms Labinjo-Halcrow is in prison for killing her then partner in 2019. It's just horrible. READ MORE - Drivers warned of major new law coming into effect on November 15. In one she writes: "Backchatting me for joke threw himself on the floor shouting abuse. The boy was tortured by Thomas Hughes and Emma Tustin, eventually dying of a head. Emma Tustin refused to leave the cells and attend court to hear her sentence on Friday. 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. Tustin told interviewing detectives that on hearing that crack she went into the hallway to see Arthur, but that he was still conscious at that point and then alleged he hit her in the stomach. 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. Car Rental Business Solutions. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. But he says "minor behaviour problems" began at Christmas 2019 which included his son telling Tustin he hated her. Audio and video clips recorded in the final weeks of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes life revealed that he was scarcely able to articulate his words and could no longer support his own weight by the time of his murder. Emma Tustin, Thomas Hughes and Arthur Labinjo-Hughes, Flowers and tributes laid at the home of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes following his death. She stated when she took over life support from Hughes she looked 'scared' and added: "Her face scared me. Arthur's father Thomas Hughes has been jailed for 21 years and his partner Emma Tustin for a minimum of at least 29 years over the torture and killing of his six-year-old son. By Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. "His death has turned the colour of our lives into a perpetual grey," she continued. She added: "Done my best for that kid he f****** hates me. He said: 'I don't care'. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. It would seem to him that it was never going to end. Sign up here. 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 . 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.'. 'As one involved in understanding the emotional and cognitive development of children, I would put forward that the threat was so great that he maintained that position in compliance with a directive he was given in a way I don't think many adults would be able to achieve.'. The haunting clips were punctuated in evidence by vile text exchanges between Tustin and Hughes. Nine of the 11 jurors returned to court to hear the pair being jailed. The "off the charts" levels of salt in his body were so high that medics believed their equipment was broken. Opening the trial, Jonas Hankin, QC, told jurors: 'Both defendants participated in a campaign of cruelty intended to cause Arthur significant harm and suffering. There's nothing under the floor, it's just concrete. 'Violence and intimidation, both physical and verbal, were routine. 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. Hughes said: "I had a story of what happened. He will never be forgotten.". A boy allegedly murdered by his father and stepmother was subjected to systemic abuse which matched the 'medical definition of child torture', it is said. Mr Hankin also suggested Tustin had developed a hatred for Arthur and viewed him as an obstacle to her relationship with his father. I'm trying to pick him up in the process. He told officers: "I devoted my life to Arthur but something has gone wrong. "You don't hear anything in my voice. The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure. Hughes was convicted of the boy's manslaughter. 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. Jurors heard chilling audio of the moment Tustin lied to 999 operators after Arthur collapsed on June 16. Why?". (SWNS) Text messages sent by a father accused of murdering his six-year-old son days before he died have been read out in court. Six-year-old Arthur Labinjo-Hughes, from Solihull, was abused, neglected and killed by his stepmother, Emma Tustin, and his father, Thomas Hughes. Hughes is alleged to have 'intentionally encouraged' the killing. The tragic youngster's short life came to an end when he was beaten to death by wicked Emma Tustin at her home in Shirley, West Mids. 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'. 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. "He was the light of my life, the best parts of me. Warning: this piece contains content that some readers may find upsetting, in particular references to child abuse and death. 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. 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. I thought: 'He's knocked him f****** self out what am I going to do'. CCTV footage filmed inside the lounge was played in court, showing Ms Tustin going out of shot and into the hallway on multiple occasions, around the time of Arthur's fatal collapse. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. He died in hospital the next day with a post-mortem examination giving a cause of death as a "head trauma inflicted on him by an adult" consistent with being "vigorously shaken and his head banged repeatedly against a hard surface". He was a precious, precious gift.". He was taking Tustin through a police interview after her arrest in connection with Arthurs death in hospital on June 17, 2020 - comparing her changed account of when the boy lost consciousness. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, Post mortem tests revealed Arthur died from a head injury, Examinations showed Arthur had 'extensive bruising over all parts of his body', He died three months after moving in to Tustin's home, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). She also claimed there is a "lump on his head" that he had "done to himself". Who will get out unscathed? Monday 6 December 2021 18:01, UK. He was made to stand for long periods of time and wasn't allowed to eat meals with the rest of the family. The youngster's tragic final moments were even captured on camera as Tustin was seen carrying his "limp" body into the living room. "We will not rest until we have the answers we need," he added. Well send you a link to a feedback form. An inside look at the housing crisis. A stepmum labelled instinctively cruel who is accused of murdering a Solihull six-year-old has denied changing her account to fit the evidence. She called social services and offered to send them the photos but told the court they . He described her as "a manipulative woman who would tell any lie and shift the blame on to anyone to save her own skin". Dr Dixon said Arthur was subjected to 'dehumanising and humiliating' treatment and appeared to want an 'end to his suffering' by calling out for his grandmother and uncle. 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 denies murder and two counts of child cruelty. Did this woman die because her genitals were cut? Jurors heard how Arthur Labinjo-Hughes was isolated, poisoned with salt and starved in his final months. A MONSTER dad and stepmum have been convicted of killing a six-year-old boy in a horrifying case that shocked the nation. Tustin, who was unclear as to when Arthur had last been given a treat like an ice cream or allowed to play outside, admitted she had been deliberately cruel but claimed her actions had left her feeling like absolute crap. She would send them to Hughes when he was out of the home to 'report' his son's behaviour.
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