For three months, his life was dictated by a cruel punishment regime enforced by Emma Tustin and Thomas Hughes. Arthur Labinjo-Hughes died after being left alone with Emma Tustin last year. [11] Arthur was taken to Birmingham Children's Hospital; however, doctors were unable to save him and he died later that night. 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. Tustin denied the bruises were on Arthur's back when social services visited. As Arthur returned to school after the summer holidays, a teaching assistant stated that she had 'no concerns' about his wellbeing. Thomas Hughes, 29, and his then girlfriend Emma Tustin, 32, stand accused of killing his son Arthur at their home in Solihull. If you have been affected by the issues raised in this article, help and support is available via BBC Action Line. There was a consensus that it was 'inconceivable' Arthur could have caused them himself. Tustin could be heard 'policing' Arthur in some of the clips barking 'stand still, stand still'. [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. He portrayed himself as dim-witted, lacking in confidence and completely submissive to Tustin's assertive control. Minutes later, Arthur was unconscious. 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.". 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. In the witness box told the jury he was simply covering for Tustin, who he now 'hated' and saw in a 'completely different light'. Tustin maintained she has used salt for the same purpose whilst being in custody. Back at home, shortly after 2.30pm Tustin messaged Hughes to say Arthur would not get up off the floor and claimed he had knocked himself out by hitting his head on the floor. Read about our approach to external linking. Arthur Labinjo-Hughes: father and partner found guilty of killing son, six. Later at trial, the prosecution argued that she gave Arthur an overdose of salt in the bathroom at around this time though Tustin denied this. They all agreed that the most likely mechanism that caused the injuries was a shaking-type motion with one or more impacts. 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 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'. The jury was told that Arthur's head injuries were comparable to someone who had been in a serious car accident. Hughes's following comment to officers proved to be telling: "Emma isn't a suspect, she's a witness. Like at home, he was forced to stand in the hallway and when he failed to stand up straight, Hughes was heard bellowing at his son, threatening to put him six feet under and to rip his head off and use it as a football. There was no way the six-year-old boy could inflict these "unsurvivable" injuries on himself. The explanations of what happened, as they emerge, are sure to be painful. Prosecutors said his head was "banged. 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. She refuted the allegation. 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. As he died, she did nothing save take a photo and send it to Hughes. Tustin spent over a week in the witness box. Kidney consultant Dr Malcolm Coulthard told the court that when Arthur arrived at hospital he was suffering from severe hypernatremia - raised sodium levels. 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. Medical experts disagreed. 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. Thomas Hughes, 29, and Emma Tustin, 32, are accused of murdering Arthur Labinjo-Hughes who suffered an "unsurvivable brain injury." The youngster was allegedly subjected to a "campaign of. The prosecutor stated social services were presented with a 'false picture'. Arthur Labinjo-Hughes: Trial begins as court hears parents 'murdered [11] She is being held at HMP Peterborough. Video, The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure, Dad and partner guilty of killing six-year-old, MasterChef Australia host Jock Zonfrillo dies, Banana artwork in Seoul museum eaten by visitor, NFL player's daughter, aged two, drowns in pool, Trevelyan relative 'would consider' famine payment, Ding becomes China's first male world chess champion, Indian 'killer' elephant relocated to tiger reserve. He suffered a cardiac arrest, but medics got his heart beating and rushed him to Birmingham Children's Hospital. The boy was mistreated over the course of several months by his father, Thomas Hughes, and his father's partner, Emma Tustin. Arthur Labinjo-Hughes: 'Bullying' couple 'poisoned' boy, 6, with salt The proceedings exceeded two months and were even halted by a fire alarm and Covid-19 alert along the way. Dr. John Hughes, MD, Family Medicine | Norwalk, OH | WebMD You can also donate cash, which will go into a fund held by a charity partner to use to plug gaps or buy specialist toys for children with additional needs. Read more. Eventually, she would call an ambulance but it was too late, and Arthur died in hospital shortly after 01:00 the following morning. Both defendants subsequently accepted they 'assaulted' the boy, contrary to their previous pleas. Even so, Ive done my best with that kid.. 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. 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. Thomas Hughes is referred to using his full-name throughout this article to make clear the distinction from his son. Serious questions are now being asked of authorities which could have intervened to save Arthur. 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. Shortly after the conviction, the government announced that there would be a national inquiry into the case. At one point he said: "The thing is how can I plead not guilty? She is currently in jail for the manslaughter of 29-year-old delivery driver Gary Cunningham in their home. Hughes allegedly spoke of putting him up for adoption. Here is the timeline of events leading up to his death. She would send them to Hughes when he was out of the home to 'report' his son's behaviour. Arthur wasn't just her only son, Labinjo-Halcrow said, but her best friend with a gentle and caring nature. 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. In one message she said 'f****** launch this lying little f***' and in another she warned she was 'going to chin this little c***'. 'No-one loves me' - Harrowing audio of crying Arthur Labinjo-Hughes Verdicts returned in murder trial of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes [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. Hughes was described as weak by the senior investigating officer, Det Insp Laura Harrison. Tragic Arthur sobbed 'nobody loves me' to uncle weeks before he I don't want them to suffer. She doesn't need it.". A "bullying" father and stepmother "poisoned" a six-year-old boy with salt and exposed him to months of "cruel" abuse, a court has heard. Thomas Hughes claims 'jealous' Emma Tustin 'drove a - BirminghamLive The couple used insults such as "Satan", "Hitler", "Devilchild", "weasel" and various swear words to refer to the boy. The horrifying details that convinced the jury in Arthur Labinjo-Hughes Arthur Labinjo-Hughes | Full Report - WillisPalmer 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. 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. Arthur Labinjo-Hughes' grandmother discovered 'naughty chair' list with Giving evidence during the trial, Hughes said Tustin had coached the two boys to lie to social services about the fight with boxing gloves, and warned him they would have their children taken from them if he did not go along with it as well. Like the CCTV, she claimed the purpose of the voice notes was to 'cover my own back'. You were in this movie. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Six-year-old Arthur from Solihull, West Midlands, was poisoned, starved and beaten during a campaign of abuse by stepmother Emma Tustin, 32, and his father Thomas Hughes, 29, during the weeks. Tustin was equally vile. [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. 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. Sep 2018 - Present4 years 8 months. [22], Due to the nature of Arthur's injuries and the accounts given by Tustin and Thomas Hughes, both parents were arrested on the evening of 16 June initially on suspicion of assault and then murder. 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. All it did was underline her inhumane treatment of her step-son. 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. Far from being a loving father, he completely let down his vulnerable son. It's as simple as that. The jury was also shown images mapping the catalogue of bruises to Arthur's body. List of child abuse cases featuring long-term detention, "Online directories- LABINJO-HUGHES, Arthur (Adjourned)", "Arthur Labinjo-Hughes: Images show tragic little boy smiling with his mother before she lost joint custody after killing partner", "What happened to Arthur Labinjo-Hughes? He was rushed to hospital later that same day, June 16, last year, but it was determined nothing could be done to save him and he died at 1am the following morning. "Just end him," one message read. Tustin's hairdresser Catherine Milhench, known as "Affy", and her husband Tobias Jarman were among the last people to see Arthur alive. Giving evidence on the sixth day of the couple's trial, Tustin's hairdresser . I haven't got a leg to stand on.". The incident was later reported to the police again by Arthur's uncle with no effect. The trial took a number of twists and turns as the prosecution detailed how Arthur was made to stand in isolation for up to 14 hours a day, was assaulted, deprived of food and water as well as poisoned with salt. Below we have listed the significant evidence and developments in the trial.The fly on the wall. Harrowing CCTV footage, a slew of terrorising text messages and inconsistent displays of remorse are just some of the key pieces of evidence which helped a jury to successfully convict a twisted step-mother and callous dad of killing his little boy. His father Thomas Hughes, 29, gave. 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. Not long after he weakly put away his bedding on 16 June, Tustin took Arthur to her appointment at Ms Milhench's home. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. Backed into a corner, all Tustin could do was deny culpability with no credible alternative explanation. The transcripts of Hughes' seven police interviews were a bombshell. There were between 100 to 130 marks in total including 30 to his head and neck. 20 April 2020: Joanne Hughes told Arthurs school about the referral to social services. ", 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. 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. Something went wrong, please try again later. Tustin reported these incidents to Thomas via text messages and audio clips of him crying. Hughes was repeatedly asked why he did not stand up for Arthur. BBC News, West Midlands. So distressing were the clips that Judge Mark Wall dissuaded the prosecution from playing all of them. Arthur Labinjo-Hughes' gran says 'I have failed' & blasts selfish killer for acting like his death 'inconvenienced' her Holly Christodoulou Published: 12:59, 3 Dec 2021 Updated: 14:55, 3 Dec 2021. Arthur Labinjo-Hughes: injuries suggested treatment 'amounting to His . Hughes made his confessions to the police in the subsequent interviews after the van journey. [17] The incident provoked discussion of the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on the welfare of vulnerable children. When I tried to get him off the floor, he headbutted me and hes hit me and kicked me, she said. One witness said the previously happy and healthy boy looked "as though he were broken" on the day of his death. Teachers reported Arthur was becoming fixated with his dad disappearing from his life, or killing him, and had also become obsessed with death, murder and guns. Arthur Labinjo-Hughes: Father 'probably' valued partner over son Arthur Labinjo-Hughes: A life cut short by cruelty - BBC News In particular, he suffered a detached retina which a pathologist said was 'very, very rare' in child head trauma cases. Arthur Labinjo-Hughes died in hospital several hours after he was found unresponsive at a house on Cranmore Road in Shirley, near Birmingham 'Bullying' parents 'poisoned' their six-year-old son. She would send them to Hughes when he was out of the home to 'report' his son's behaviour. The monster even had the gall to claim the boy was making her life 'hell'. But her ultimate unravelling came as she was quizzed about Arthur's collapse. Hughes initially admitted he was 'accountable' for Arthur's death and said: "There's a long ways to go but I'm guilty of it. Mr Hankin said the evidence indicated Arthur was isolated and "physically and verbally abused", while access to food and drink were "controlled or restricted". The child was secretly given a drink of water by the hairdresser's partner, who later described him as "gaunt", "malnourished" and "a poor little kid who was broken".