Addressing Arthur's death, the judge said the level of violence used by Tustin "produced forces on his body equivalent to those which might otherwise have been produced by a high-speed road traffic collision". There were also 20 areas of bruising on his arms and eight on his chest and stomach. He said he had wanted to "shock" rather than "hurt" his son, but that he "probably" hit him harder than intended. I was frightened. 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". 'Knowing that the context was the threat of what would happen to him if he did move, it is very telling that he maintains that position. No further action was taken and the injury was put down to "boisterous play" with his step-siblings. The dad also threatened "Kid's getting ended when I'm back" and said he would "take his neck off", Coventry Crown Court heard. When I was alone with Arthur I froze for a second. Asked if he ever inflicted injuries to his son, Hughes replied: "Probably yes." The youngster expressed fears over his dad, telling staff: "Dad is going to kill me. "You don't hear anything in my voice. The boy was mistreated over the course of several months by his father, Thomas Hughes, and his father's partner, Emma Tustin. Nine of the 11 jurors returned to court to hear the pair being jailed. He was allegedly beaten, dragged by the scruff of the neck and made to stand for 14 hours a day in cruelty 'designed to terrorise', say prosecutors. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. 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. The court was told Tustin recorded more than 22 pictures and videos of Arthur in distress. 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. 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". Arthur was forced to stand alone in a hallway for up to 14 hours a day and deprived of food and water. 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. (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. On another recording, from more than a month before Arthurs murder, he could be heard screaming and moaning: Im scared, Im scared.. 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. Hughes had force-fed Arthur the massive dose with water before popping to Iceland and a toy store. The haunting clips were punctuated in evidence by vile text exchanges between Tustin and Hughes. She and Hughes are accused of multiple counts of child cruelty, after forcing Arthur to endure "systematic, cruel behaviour" of "physical and psychological" abuse in the weeks before his death. Arthur's murderer answered: "I did follow the rules. There's more to come, because further investigations will determine whether opportunities were missed to intervene and possibly save Arthur. 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. She has shown no remorse at any stage during the two-month trial. Tustin is now serving a life sentence of at least 29 years for Arthur's murder while Hughes, 29, was jailed for 21 years after being found guilty of manslaughter by a jury at Coventry Crown Court . 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. They . Robert Grnling. Arthurs father Thomas Hughes, 29, of Stroud Road, was convicted of manslaughter after encouraging the killing. Hughes said in hindsight he could have "treated him (Arthur) like a child rather than a prisoner", adding: "It was a form of discipline that in hindsight probably went too far. Chillingly, he was so weak from the poisoning that he couldn't even put up a fight against her when she battered him. I picked him up and put him on the stairs. An inside look at the housing crisis. She would rather the noise for however long I was out than do anything to him that could have come back on her.". Sentencing the. You subjected him to a campaign of appalling cruelty didn't you. The grandad of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes, who was tortured, poisoned and beaten to death by his dad and stepmum, has said the boy's killers must never go free. 'Insufficient social workers to meet need' in town where Arthur Labinjo-Hughes died, probe finds Inspection finds staffing problems at Solihull council worsened after court case for child's murder, and calls for urgent action to reduce delays at children's services 'front door' and improve local multi-agency working "That is wholly at odds with what you are now saying to the jury. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. Six-year-old Arthur Labinjo-Hughes endured months of pain and suffering at the hands of . Both are jointly accused of two counts of child cruelty by assault on multiple occasions and also by withholding food and/or drink. Emma Tustin, 32, was convicted of the murder of her 6-year-old stepson, Arthur Labinjo-Hughes. The 32-year-old said she 'froze for a second' but then realised she 'had to do something for him' despite feeling 'completely useless'. Emma Tustin, 32, was convicted today (2 December 2021) at Coventry Crown Court following a trial that lasted eight weeks. It is alleged they forced the boy to stand on his own for hours on end, assaulted him, deprived him of food and water as well as poisoned him with salt. Sentencing, Mr Justice Wall told Coventry Crown Court the case was "one of the most distressing and disturbing" he had ever dealt with. 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Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. | . "You've been caught out lying haven't you?" On 16 June 2020, Arthur Labinjo- Hughes . Tie some rope around his mouth with a sock in it or something.'. 'In some of the clips he appears to be pleading. Why?. Jurors heard chilling audio of the moment Tustin lied to 999 operators after Arthur collapsed on June 16. 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. "Dad is going to throw me out the windowdad is a c***". But social workers failed to spot the bruises - despite the images being taken just 25 hours earlier. Why?". When Tustin said the dad would have to "pay double", Hughes said: "F**k me I'll pay quadruple". 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 just didn't care. When I was talking to him he looked like he was looking at me, he wasn't looking elsewhere. 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.'. Thomas Hughes, 29, sent the harrowing text to partner Emma Tustin, 32, after she claimed Arthur Labinjo-Hughes was misbehaving. He told officers: "I devoted my life to Arthur but something has gone wrong. A jury sitting at Coventry Crown Court was told that little Arthur Labinjo-Hughes had his head "banged repeatedly against a hard surface" and that a photo of him was taken on a phone as he lay dying. Meanwhile, his dad and stepmum cooled down with ice cream in a hot tub outside. "Violence and intimidation, both physical and verbal, were routine. "Because I was frustrated, as horrible as it sounds I couldn't hit my partner, who's a woman, couldn't lay a finger on her or her children. Arthur Labinjo Hughes was found with 125 areas of bruising on his body after dying from unsurvivable brain injuries in June 2020. The shameless mum blamed the youngster for his own injuries - claiming he "headbutted the floor on all fours". Ian Courts, leader of Solihull Council, said he was "shocked and appalled" at Arthur's death. Hughes claimed to teachers he wasn't eating and there was a risk he would faint if he came back so he was keeping him home. Keep up with the latest news with our email alerts directly to your inbox. Who will get out unscathed? The past always catches up with you VideoThe past always catches up with you 2023 BBC. 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A stepmother accused of murdering a six-year-old boy has denied changing her account to fit the evidence. Police, social workers and teachers missed a series of chances to save Arthur before his death in June last year. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. Emma Tustin is accused of fatally shaking and hitting Arthur Labinjo-Hughes at her home in Solihull in June 2020. They give the impression of a forlorn little boy in tears. 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 trial heard Arthur had been poisoned with salt, subjected to regular beatings, denied food and drink and made to stand for hours alone in the hallway. The worst situation.". "He was a beautiful boy with an infectious smile. Emma Tustin denies murdering six-year-old Arthur Labinjo-Hughes at her home in Shirley on June 16, last year; the boy's dad Thomas Hughes also stands accused, Never miss breaking news by signing up to our free email updates. She also claimed there is a "lump on his head" that he had "done to himself". But he says "minor behaviour problems" began at Christmas 2019 which included his son telling Tustin he hated her. 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. 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. Jurors heard how on June 16 last year, he was found unresponsive at the home in Solihull. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. Both killers will serve these sentences concurrently. "He knocked himself unconscious. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. The offenders were sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on 3 December 2021. A note at the bottom of the list read: "Any additional time accrued on chair such as crying, telling more than once, is extra 10 minutes on top of already set time.". So Arthur took the brunt of my frustrations unfairly. Hughes claimed he was "devoted" to his son, but something had "gone wrong" and his son had "paid the price", prosecutors said. He was looking directly at me. 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. Six-year-old Arthur Labinjo-Hughes, from Solihull, was abused, neglected and killed by his stepmother, Emma Tustin, and his father, Thomas Hughes. 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 . This has been a case that's moved everyone who has seen, heard or read about it. She allegedly carried out the fatal assault and fetched her phone immediately afterwards to photograph the boy as he lay dying in the hallway. To help us improve GOV.UK, wed like to know more about your visit today. stages of development of tropical cyclone ingrid stages of development of tropical cyclone ingrid In April 2020, it emerged children's social services and police were alerted by his grandmother to concerns about Arthur's care. On Thursday, dad Thomas Hughes and stepmother Emma Tustin were convicted after . View our online Press Pack. The vile couple also compiled a list of "time penalties" for how long Arthur had to sit on a pink naughty chair. A date for the hearing at the Court of Appeal is yet to be set. 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 force said it would . 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.. 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. Tustin answered: I did get it wrong, very wrong. She denies murder and two counts of child cruelty. Tustin added: "He banged his head three or four times. "I feel hollow every day, I feel as though I'm walking around with all the lights turned off. 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'. Dr Dixon said Arthur would have been in a 'state of constant stress and fear'. 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. Jurors were told the stepmum had complained she "had to tell Arthur off" in front of Catherine's partner Tobias Jarman. He would get a smack more than he should. Arthur Labinjo-Hughes, six, was allegedly deprived of food and water, made to stand in a hallway for up to 14 hours a day and poisoned with salt before being fatally attacked in June 2020. A normal range of sodium is around 140 mmol/L, jurors were told. 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. 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. The 32-year-old also told. I said 'if you behave you will be off it tomorrow.' Emma Tustin, who is accused of fatally shaking and hitting Arthur Labinjo-Hughes, leaving him with an unsurvivable brain injury, told a jury at Coventry Crown Court : I did not lie.. She also said it was "clear that Arthur was failed by the very authorities that we, as a society, are led to believe are there to ensure the safety of everyone". 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. His father Thomas Hughes,. That is wholly at odds with what you are now saying to the jury. For other inquiries, Contact Us. Arthur Labinjo-Hughes: Father 'threatened to take boy's jaw off' bbc.co.uk. He was a precious, precious gift.". Bizarrely, the monster goes on to say Arthur, who by this point had been starved and force-fed salt until he could barely support his own frame, "smashed this house to pieces". He appeared to be so frail he could barely pick up his bedding and staggered as he attempted to walk. Still screaming. 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. Hughes explained that Tustin took numerous "recordings" of Arthur to "cover her own back" should he go to school and claim she had hit him, the court heard. He added: "Together they denigrated and debased him, they dehumanised him.". "I looked at his head and there was a lump which was blue. They have also previously heard audio clips Tustin recorded of Arthur sobbing while allegedly being abused. 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". In reality, she repeatedly slammed Arthur's head against a hard surface - bringing a tragic end to the tsunami of abuse he suffered at her hands. 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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?. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. Thomas Hughes, Arthur Labinjo-Hughes and Emma Tustin. Monday 6 December 2021 18:01, UK. Opening the trial, Jonas Hankin, QC, told jurors: 'Both defendants participated in a campaign of cruelty intended to cause Arthur significant harm and suffering. If you do something while on there, the time was extended, then extended. ", 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. He described her as "a manipulative woman who would tell any lie and shift the blame on to anyone to save her own skin". It would seem to him that it was never going to end. Calls then went unanswered to the home in May and Arthur failed to return when schools re-opened on June 8. 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. 14 Jurors heard tragic evidence in Arthur's murder trial Credit: PA 14 Tustin has. Hughes and Tustin were able to shield behind Covid restrictions to hide their abuse from the authorities. The government has launched a national review and local inspection following the murder of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes. Emma Tustin refused to leave the cells and attend court to hear her sentence on Friday. She added: "Done my best for that kid he f****** hates me. 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. Keep up with the latest news with our email alerts directly to your inbox. Jurors heard how Arthur's death came three months after his father had moved into Tustin's home. After I calmed down I felt ashamed. He will never be forgotten.". Tustin claimed she attempted to "bear hug" the boy but he "dropped" and then kicked her as she tried to pick him up. Mr Hankin asked: You are instinctively cruel arent you?
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