New patients are welcome. Arthur's dad, Thomas Hughes, 29, and 32-year-old Emma Tustin, his partner, are on trial jointly accused of murder, after the boy suffered an "unsurvivable brain injury" in June . I haven't got a leg to stand on. The social worker concluded that Arthur was 'very happy and very safe' and that there were no safeguarding issues in the household. Prosecutors said his head was "banged repeatedly against a hard surface" causing an "unsurvivable brain injury". The following day social worker Jayne Kavanagh visited the address at Cranmore Road accompanied by Angela Scarlett-Coppage, a family support worker who had dealt with Tustin before in her previous relationship. 15 June: Tustin took Arthur with her to an appointment with her hairdresser, Catherine Milhench, who said Arthur was told to face the door and not move during the six-hour session. Arthur died in Solihull in June 2020. No-one else. Tustin had been repeatedly lacing his food and drink with it. Arthur Labinjo-Hughes: vulnerable children 'slipped from view' in The vast majority of the recordings were of Arthur crying. In another, the fear stricken boy yelled 'daddy's going to throw me out the window'. Later that evening, Thomas belted Arthur's legs and later told Tustin to "Just end him". She described his appearance as skeletal and said his legs were shaking like he couldnt hold himself up. 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 . The truth was he had made his choice. 8 June 2020: Arthurs school reopened but Hughes did not send his son back, initially claiming the boy hadnt slept well and would return the next day. The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure. Both defendants subsequently accepted they 'assaulted' the boy, contrary to their previous pleas. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. Verdicts returned in murder trial of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes [9], Tustin is believed to have carried out the fatal assault at 2:29p.m when she went into the hallway, where Arthur was located. More on Arthur Labinjo-hughes - Sky News Ms Kavanagh insisted she only saw a single 'faint' bruise on Arthur's back and not the marks visible in the picture taken just 26 hours earlier, despite an expert saying they would not have faded by then. I was not there. Hughes told police he 'turned into a monster' during lockdown and that 'Arthur took the brunt of my frustrations unfairly'. Thomas Hughes and Tustin's behaviour towards Arthur became increasingly neglectful, with Arthur forced to spend extended periods isolated from the rest of the household. When I tried to get him off the floor, he headbutted me and hes hit me and kicked me, she said. I haven't got a leg to stand on.". All it did was underline her inhumane treatment of her step-son. Emma Tustin is referred to using her surname throughout this article. While much of the exchanges were inaudible Tustin could be heard regularly asking what Hughes had said to the police. Mr Hughes, 29, of Stroud Road, and Ms Tustin allegedly forced Arthur to endure "systematic, cruel behaviour", both "physical and psychological" in the weeks before he died. To get the latest email updates from Yorkshire Live, click here . The prosecutor stated social services were presented with a 'false picture'. [20][21], In July 2021, Olivia Labinjo-Halcrow was convicted of the manslaughter of her partner, and was sentenced to 11 years in prison. He was rushed to hospital following the incident on June 16 2020, but despite the best efforts of medical staff, it was determined that nothing could be done to save him and he sadly lost his life at 1am the following day. The prosecutor stated social services were presented with a 'false picture'. The following day social worker Jayne Kavanagh visited the address at Cranmore Road accompanied by Angela Scarlett-Coppage, a family support worker who had dealt with Tustin before in her previous relationship. The camera also recorded the couple and Tustin's children enjoying food and leisure activities which Arthur was not allowed to participate in. 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 Labinjo-Hughes: father and partner found guilty of killing son, six. The jury was told that Arthur had been in the sole care of his father after his natural mother, Olivia Labinjo, was convicted of a killing in February 2019. The six-year-old collapsed from catastrophic head injuries in the hallway of a home in Cranmore Road, Shirley where he had been confined as a 'punishment' for most of the first national lockdown. Hughes was seemingly unmoved by the sound of his boy crying over and over again. The Attorney General's office said on 4 December that the sentences would be reviewed to "determine whether they were too low" under the unduly lenient sentence scheme. Medical experts dominated the proceedings for an entire week. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Arthur never went back to school before his death. Thomas Hughes, Arthur Labinjo-Hughes and Emma Tustin He told the jury at Coventry Crown Court he was forced to stay at Tustin's home when the first lockdown was announced in March 2020.. Arthur died in hospital in the early hours of the following day. She was asked to retrieve her notes of the visit and return to the witness box at a later stage in the trial. More on Arthur Labinjo-hughes - Sky News 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'. Hughes took Tustin's children to the supermarket, leaving his own son in mortal danger. Despite the challenges, he was a happy and cheeky child who was adored by his extended family. The alleged incident took place. 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. Please don't keep Emma in custody. They each deny murder. Sentences for killers of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes to be reviewed for He was monitored on CCTV set up around the home, cameras that would eventually capture Tustin callously trying to administer Calpol to the boy she had murdered just out of view in the hallway. 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". She was also found guilty of child cruelty counts 4 (deprivation of food and drink) and 5 (salt poisoning). She claimed she followed an 'old wives' tale' in her family and used it to relieve pain and burning on her genitals - caused by the long-term effects of trying to take her own life in 2013 by jumping from a car park. As he grew weaker and struggled to stand, Arthur would be punished further if he tried to move or sit down in the hallway. Thomas Hughes, Arthur Labinjo-Hughes and Emma Tustin. Arthur's case was "horrendous, horrific and heart-breaking," the NSPCC said and the charity called for the serious case review to "establish the lessons that need to be learned to prevent this awful case from happening again". Join Breaking News and Incidents in Yorkshire, Desperate plight of tragic Arthur Labinjo-Hughes was 'missed because of Covid' says social work boss, Emma Tustin and Thomas Hughes indulged in hot tubs and ice cream as Arthur left starving and alone. Hughes returned home and a 999 call was made at 2.42pm. The 32-year-old was said to have "bristled with hostility" towards Arthur. The six-year-old died in hospital from a brain injury after he was found fatally injured at a house in Shirley, Solihull. The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure. 16 June 2020: Video footage from a CCTV camera in the living room, where Arthur slept on the floor, showed him appearing weak as he woke up and struggled to carry his duvet out of the room. Prosecutors said his head was "banged. Arthur Labinjo-Hughes: Killer father has sentence increased Emma Tustin allegedly carried out the assault. Ironically, all it did was serve to incriminate her and Hughes further. Her partner, Tobias Jarman, snuck the boy a glass of water without Tustin and Hughes knowing, and said he looked petrified. Over the following days he reported to the school that Arthur was losing weight, wasnt eating and might faint. [11], In April, Thomas Hughes returned home with his son for a few days due to a disagreement with Tustin. ", READ MORE: Guilty: 'Evil' dad and stepmum killed little Arthur Labinjo-Hughes after months of torture and abuse. They were among the key pieces of evidence which helped a jury convict a sadistic dad and step-mother of killing little Arthur Labinjo-Hughes. She said his physical appearance seemed fine and, as his aggression and anxiety had reduced, she concluded there was no mental health issue. Tustin claimed she was shedding tears for Arthur. Like the CCTV, she claimed the purpose of the voice notes was to 'cover my own back'. We pay respect by giving voice to social justice, acknowledging our shared history and valuing the cultures of First Nations. Arthur Labinjo-Hughes: injuries suggested treatment 'amounting to The day before Arthur died he joked about paying someone to 'dig Arthur's grave'. There were between 100 to 130 marks in total including 30 to his head and neck. Hughes allegedly spoke of putting him up for adoption. Kidney consultant Dr Malcolm Coulthard told the court that when Arthur arrived at hospital he was suffering from severe hypernatremia - raised sodium levels. The couple installed a camera at home to monitor Arthur during his isolation. I'm guilty of all of this. The boy was mistreated over the course of several months by his father, Thomas Hughes, and his father's partner, Emma Tustin. Tustin maintained she has used salt for the same purpose whilst being in custody. Consultant pathologist Dr Roger Malcolmson told the murder trial. It was made plain to her that the consensus medical opinion was that Arthur could not have caused his fatal head injuries himself, and yet still she blamed him for his own death. 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. You were in this movie. [26][27][28] Mister Justice Mark Wall, the presiding judge, described the case in his sentencing remarks as among the most "distressing and disturbing" cases that he has dealt with. Arthur was conspicuous by his absence on the camera for long periods despite the fact both defendants would often be in the living room talking, gesticulating or shouting towards the hallway. 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. Arthur Labinjo-Hughes, six, collapsed from fatal injuries at a home in Shirley, Solihull on June 16 last year. I'm guilty of all of this. Shown CCTV of her slapping the boy to the head, grabbing him by the scruff of the neck and waking him up by ripping the duvet from underneath him, Tustin admitted she had been cruel by assaulting Arthur - despite previously pleading not guilty to that particular offence. Mr Hankin said the evidence indicated Arthur was isolated and "physically and verbally abused", while access to food and drink were "controlled or restricted". Thomas Hughes, 29, and his then girlfriend Emma Tustin, 32, stand accused of killing his son Arthur at their home in Solihull. Arthur Labinjo-Hughes Websleuths - UK - Arthur Labinjo Hughes, 6 The next day, a social worker went to visit Hughes and Tustin's household. Hughes allegedly spoke of putting him up for adoption. Tuesday 16 June 2020 started the same as any other for six-year-old Arthur Labinjo-Hughes: in misery and in pain. The same witness said that when Arthur "secretly" asked him for a drink of water, while Mr Hughes and Ms Tustin were out of the room, "he had to hold [the glass] to Arthur's mouth" because he was "too weak to hold it himself". Tustin and Hughes simply kept him out of view. Arthur Labinjo-Hughes, six, collapsed from fatal injuries at a home in Shirley, Solihull on June 16 last year. [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. A review by social services is currently under way and the Independent Office for Police Conduct is also examining whether opportunities were missed by police. There was a consensus that it was 'inconceivable' Arthur could have caused them himself. Hughes was found guilty of child cruelty counts 2 (standing in isolation) and 3 (assaults). It was not intentional," he added. He portrayed himself as dim-witted, lacking in confidence and completely submissive to Tustin's assertive control. The camera in the living room captured Arthur slumped on the floor. A jury has now convicted dad Thomas Hughes of manslaughter and step-mother. [15] More broadly the child was honoured at various football matches on 4 December 2021. Tustin had inflicted a catastrophic brain injury by shaking him and repeatedly slamming his head into a hard surface. No-one else. The couple used insults such as "Satan", "Hitler", "Devilchild", "weasel" and various swear words to refer to the boy. 17 April 2020: Social worker Jayne Kavanagh from Solihull council visited Tustins home. Tustin and Thomas Hughes[c] were convicted on murder and manslaughter charges, respectively, in December 2021. Arthur's grandmother Joanne Hughes made a social services report on April 16, 2020, after discovering bruises to his back, which she suspected had been caused by Tustin. 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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. Far from being a loving father, he completely let down his vulnerable son. Tustin, 32, and 29-year-old Hughes were accused of killing Arthur Labinjo-Hughes, who suffered an "unsurvivable" brain injury on June 16, 2020. Arthur's grandmother Joanne Hughes made a social services report on April 16, 2020, after discovering bruises to his back, which she suspected had been caused by Tustin. "We know that the Department for Education reported more serious injuries and deaths of children during the last year with a higher percentage in the first six months - so we do know that lockdown had a significant impact on children and families," Helen Westerman, from the NSPCC, said. The murder of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes was a tragedy. The court also heard Tustin wanted the CCTV because she was fearful of Arthur making allegations about her. 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. 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. [14] Arthur's favourite team, Birmingham City F.C, named a children's area in its stadium after him and supporters sung his name on a march through Birmingham prior to a match. In a series of twists and turns, the circumstances surrounding little Arthurs death were at times difficult to hear, with the prosecution detailing a catalogue of abuse the young lad had endured. Jonas Hankin QC, for the prosecution, told jurors at Coventry Crown Court that Ms Tustin's account included the suggestion "Arthur had headbutted her during the incident" and had treated the couple badly. But the evidence undermined the act. Arthur Labinjo-Hughes died after being left alone with Emma Tustin last year, Arthur's grandmother alerted social services to bruises on his body, but no action was taken, Arthur was monitored on CCTV which in court would be used to prove how he suffered, Arthur Labinjo-Hughes suffered a fatal collapse while at Emma Tustin's home in Solihull, Arthur was fatally assaulted by Tustin in the hallway at the house on Cramore Road, During her trial, Emma Tustin sought to blame Arthur for his own injuries, Thomas Hughes completely let his son down, police said. Arthur Labinjo-Hughes is referred to using his first name throughout this article due to his age. 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. [4][5][2][3] This led to Thomas Hughes becoming Arthur's sole carer. He loved school, football and superheroes. Arthur wasn't just her only son, Labinjo-Halcrow said, but her best friend with a gentle and caring nature. Tustin pleaded guilty to child cruelty counts 2 and 3. She wants the world to remember her son, not for the harrowing end to his short life, but for his superpower - his smile. [13], Emma Tustin was convicted of murdering Arthur Labinjo-Hughes at Coventry Crown Court in December 2021, and was given a life sentence with a minimum of 29 years. 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. [8], On the morning of 16 June, Arthur appeared on CCTV footage to be weak, in visible pain and struggling to lift his bedclothes. Saturday 4 December 2021 06:21, UK . I don't want Emma to suffer.". He said the messages were so constant they became 'boring', and he stopped listening to them. significant evidence and developments in the trial. He added: "Over the course of 17 months a lot has been put to me I was not previously aware of regarding Emma and it has made me see Emma in a completely different light. Hospital affiliations include Fisher Titus Medical Center. She said: "I was not near Arthur. She would send them to Hughes when he was out of the home to 'report' his son's behaviour. Arthur Labinjo-Hughes, six, 'knew his dad was going to kill him' but Tustin and Hughes. All rights reserved. Six year old Arthur Labinjo-Hughes suffered a catalogue of abuse before succumbing to fatal injuries at a home in Solihull last year, Yorkshire breaking news and updates sent straight to your inbox.