Arthur Labinjo-Hughes: Dad and partner found guilty of killing son

Chris Parsons

A father and stepmother who abused and poisoned six-year-old Arthur Labinjo-Hughes and left him with an 'unsurvivable' brain injury have been found guilty over his death.

Emma Tustin, 32, and 29-year-old Thomas Hughes, killed 'happy and smiley' Arthur Labinjo-Hughes following a 'campaign of cruelty' which they'd claimed was part of a behavioural regime.

Tustin was convicted of murder at Coventry Crown Court and Hughes of manslaughter.

The pair abused Arthur for months during the start of the first national lockdown in 2020 by poisoning him with salt-laced meals, starving, dehydrating and beating him.

The youngster died in June 2020 from a head trauma, while a post-mortem found Arthur had suffered about 130 separate injuries.

A court heard that Tustin carried out the final assault, while Hughes sent a text to her 18 hours beforehand telling her, 'just end him'.

Heartbreaking: Audio was played to the murder trial jury in which Arthur could be heard saying “no-one loves me”, and another in which he cried “no-one’s gonna feed me”. (SWNS)
Heartbreaking: Audio was played to the murder trial jury in which Arthur could be heard saying “no-one loves me”, and another in which he cried “no-one’s gonna feed me”. (SWNS) (WMP / SWNS)
This photograph taken by his paternal grandmother of Arthur two months before his death prompted a referral to social services, however the bruises were put down to
This photograph taken by his paternal grandmother of Arthur two months before his death prompted a referral to social services, however the bruises were put down to "play-fighting" with another youngster. (PA) (PA)

Heartbreaking audio extracts of Arthur, which Tustin claimed she took as evidence of his 'naughty' behaviour, were played in court where the boy can be heard saying “no-one loves me”, and another in which he cried “no-one’s gonna feed me”.

Hughes, in evidence, has alleged Tustin “mentally abused” and “gaslighted” him into complying with the punishing disciplinary regime, but also admitted lying to school staff who were checking on Arthur’s progress during the first Covid lockdown.

He previously said he had “probably” placed the couple’s relationship above the welfare of his son.

Tustin, who has accepted being cruel to Arthur on occasions and was pregnant with Hughes’s unborn child at the time, has said she was “disgusted and ashamed” by her admitted behaviour.

The house in Solihull where Arthur, aged six, suffered 'unsurvivable' head trauma. (SWNS)
The house in Solihull where Arthur, aged six, suffered 'unsurvivable' head trauma. (SWNS) (SWNS)

But she has claimed Arthur’s fatal head injury must have been self-inflicted, possibly caused by him throwing himself down the staircase in her hallway, and describing how she heard a “bang” and a “crack”.

During her evidence, she said that just because medical experts had concluded Arthur’s death had been caused by head trauma “inflicted upon him by an adult”, that “doesn’t make it true”.

The pair had denied murder and two allegations of child cruelty; by administering salt to Arthur between June 1 and 17 last year and by withholding food and drink.

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