View our online Press Pack. Emma Tustin claimed Arthur Labinjo-Hughes 'knocked him f****** self out' at her home in Cranmore Road, Shirley, Solihull, on June 16 last year - when he suffered fatal injuries which led to his death hours later. Mr Hankin asked her: "You've changed your account haven't you? "We will not rest until we have the answers we need," he added. He had been placed in his dad's care after his mum Olivia Labinjo-Halcrow, 26, was jailed for 18 years for stabbing her boyfriend to death. Mail Online Reporter The cross-examination of Tustin continued at Coventry Crown Court on Monday after the weekend break. Tustin, who has admitted one count of child cruelty but denies two other similar charges and murder, remains in the witness box under cross-examination. 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. Hughes replied: "Ask T[Tobias] to dig Arthur's grave for me please.". (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. He added that he may not have noticed Arthur hitting his head after he had slapped him. "We considered Arthur as part of the school family," head teacher Jacqueline Nicholls said. This is an extremely upsetting and disturbing case, involving a clearly vulnerable young child. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. "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. The youngster expressed fears over his dad, telling staff: "Dad is going to kill me. Keep up with the latest news with our email alerts directly to your inbox. Hughes was convicted of the boy's manslaughter. For other inquiries, Contact Us. Asked if the boy appeared conscious she said: "He wasn't out of it completely. He will never be forgotten.". Emma Tustin, 32, was convicted today (2 December 2021) at Coventry Crown Court following a trial that lasted eight weeks. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. The 32-year-old also told. In a 999 call made 12 minutes after Arthur was found unresponsive, Tustin claimed his head injuries were self-inflicted. Arthur Labinjo-Hughes: Stepmum's 999 call as boy lies 'lifeless'. Why?. The nation has been left stunned regarding the horrifying cruelty meted out to Arthur Labinjo-Hughes before his tragic death. He loved reading and his favourite story was The Snail and the Whale. Arthur Labinjo-Hughes suffered a fatal collapse while at Emma Tustin's home in Solihull All the while, Arthur was cut off from those who loved him and could help him. 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. Little Arthur was subjected to a"campaign of cruelty" that matched the medical definition of child torture. After I calmed down I felt ashamed. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. I was frightened. The court heard how one witness claimed Arthur was 'too weak' to even hold a glass of water to his mouth on the day before he collapsed. I thought: 'He's knocked him f****** self out what am I going to do'. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? She also claimed there is a "lump on his head" that he had "done to himself". Ms Tustin later said: "I don't even remember speaking to them [the police], I was tired. Hughes told Tustin to dig his sons grave and gag him with rope and a sock when he was apparently misbehaving. 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. 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?. Tustin and Hughes also dished out unusual punishments as the sickening abuse ramped up - cutting up his football shirts and taking his teddy away. I'm trying to pick him up in the process. Tustin recorded more than 22 pictures and videos of Arthur in distress highlighting the horrific abuse he was suffering. Meanwhile, Tustin called her stepson vile names - including Satan and Hitler - over hundreds of disgusting messages. The pair also deny murder and an allegation of child cruelty by administering salt to Arthur between June 1 and 17 last year. The tragic youngster was subjected to a "campaign of cruelty" before his death that matched the medical definition of child torture, it is said. Both killers will serve these sentences concurrently. Six-year-old Arthur Labinjo-Hughes endured months of pain and suffering at the hands of . 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. 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". "It got to the point I said 'if you are not going to behave you can stay there for the day'. She agreed with Mr Hankin that Arthur had been made to stand in a model posture likened in court to a soldier on guard outside Buckingham Palace. Both are jointly accused of two counts of child cruelty by assault on multiple occasions and also by withholding food and/or drink. Tustin answered: I did get it wrong, very wrong. She replied: "I haven't been caught out.". 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. Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi said he would be making a statement on the case to Parliament on Monday, adding the government was "determined to protect children from harm". They . 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. Youre saying the record of interview, that everybody has agreed, is inaccurate?, She later said: I dont even remember speaking to them (the police), I was tired. During Tustins evidence, prosecutor Jonas Hankin QC said it was clear from the tone of her commands to Arthur that she had relished being cruel towards him. VideoThe world's most endangered jobs. He's knocked himself out, please get back'.". Even Arthurs stepmother Emma Tustin admitted in court that it was horrendous to listen to and watch footage of him captured on her mobile phone and CCTV cameras inside her lounge. Stepmum Tustin has been jailed for a minimum of 29 years for murdering . Jonas Hankin, prosecuting, asked Tustin: Youve been caught out lying havent you?, Tustin replied: I havent been caught out.. Emma Tustin, Thomas Hughes and Arthur Labinjo-Hughes, Flowers and tributes laid at the home of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes following his death. Hughes then fell 'hook, line and sinker' for Tustin and moved into her home when the country entered lockdown in March 2020. On another recording, from more than a month before Arthurs murder, he could be heard screaming and moaning: Im scared, Im scared.. He would get a smack more than he should. The court was told Tustin recorded more than 22 pictures and videos of Arthur in distress. Sign up here. Thomas Hughes did apologise via his lawyer, but it's hard to believe that will carry much weight with the family members who were present in court, many of whom were in tears. 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. "If you want to make suggestions, I can't stop you doing that but that's not the case . The judge told the pair "the cruel and inhuman treatment of Arthur was a deliberate decision by you to brush off his cries for help as naughtiness". Something went wrong, please try again later. So Arthur took the brunt of my frustrations unfairly. The Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) is set to publish a report into West Midlands Police's contact with the case in due course but said it "found no indication any individual behaved in a manner that justified disciplinary proceedings". In further text messages read to the court, Tustin continues complaining about Arthur's behaviour on June 15. He was telling me a different story. "Dad is going to throw me out the windowdad is a c***". 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. Judge Mark Wall praised Arthur's two grandmothers, Joanna Hughes and Madeleine Halcrow, telling both that they'd been courageous to come to court and read out victim impact statements. 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. Tustin, handed a life sentence for murder, was also sentenced to 10 years for four counts of child cruelty, including assaults, intimidation and the lacing of Arthur's meals with salt. Find out about the Energy Bills Support Scheme, Cornwall and West Devon mining landscape: review of SOUV, Remuneration information of the CDEI advisory board. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. During the trial, Mr Hankin asked Tustin: You are not a camp guard following the rules are you? Football fans have organised tributes for Arthur, including a banner at his beloved Birmingham City. Jurors heard how Arthur Labinjo-Hughes was isolated, poisoned with salt and starved in his final months. Safety warnings about Arthur Labinjo-Hughes by his family and neighbours were ignored, his grandfather has said. Tustin claimed she had not realised at the time how bad the abuse was even though texts proved that Arthur was deliberately moved away from his punishment step beside the front door when his grandmother delivered post. An inside look at the housing crisis. Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast . The victim's father, Thomas Hughes, 29, was convicted of his manslaughter. Prosecutors have alleged the killing blows were inflicted by Tustin on Arthur, after he had been weakened by months of physical and mental abuse, salt poisoning and starvation. 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. 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. A stepmum labelled instinctively cruel who is accused of murdering a Solihull six-year-old has denied changing her account to fit the evidence. The cross-examination of Emma Tustin - who is accused of murdering Arthur Labinjo Hughes - continues at Coventry Crown Court, Subscribe today to get the latest crime headlines straight to your inbox with our free email updates. Boris Johnson: Tough sentences are "absolutely no consolation". She denies murder and two counts of child cruelty. Solihull Councils childrens services team went round to the house the following day. . The 32-year-old also claimed to judge that her police interview transcript was inaccurate. There were also 20 areas of bruising on his arms and eight on his chest and stomach. He found himself there more than he should.". Jurors heard how Arthur's death came three months after his father had moved into Tustin's home. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. Despite his comments, no action was taken and Hughes was believed by staff when he told them the youngster was "doing grand" during a call in lockdown. Read more: Jury told stepmother accused of six-year-old's murder was 'coercive'. "He knocked himself unconscious. Arthur Labinjo-Hughes was routinely subjected to physical violence and ill-treatment and he was deliberately deprived of water and poisoned with salt. '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. The "off the charts" levels of salt in his body were so high that medics believed their equipment was broken. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. 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.
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