UK - Arthur Labinjo Hughes, 6, killed, dad & friend arrested, June 2020

[Chessgirl]

OK - so i've had a look through TH's time on the stand - and these are the examples I think suggest he treated Arthur as a mini adult, and not as a little boy. To me, he seems to have forgotten the massive upheavals Arthur had experienced in his life, he makes no allowances for the complex emotions Arthur would have been experiencing and there appears little awareness on his part to help Arthur cope with his circumstances. And also seems to have forgotten that he knew his son better than ET. There were several examples of him showing concern to his son - but I've not included them as this post isn't about that. Just in case anyone feels I'm clutching at straws or being unfair. All these screenshots were taken in the wider context of his answers.

Yeah. In fact I could maybe see TH having BPD. He could be cruel to his son but sounds like he had moments of feeling terrible about it? It’s interesting to see he probably was not void of empathy in contrast to Emma.

 

[Dotta]

Right. I think the confusion comes in when there is someone with comorbid BPD and ASPD or NPD. I just get a little frustrated when I hear people say those with BPD cannot feel empathy, as most of us are empaths to the extreme. Sorry to keep going on about this.

Granted, Im not an expert but
there are some indicators that ET might suffer from BPD:
- fear of abandonment
- unstable relationships
- impulsive, risky behaviours and suicidal thoughts
- mood swings
- explosive anger
- anxiety
- depression
- unstable plans
- childhood distress/abuse/neglect.

 

[Chessgirl]

Granted, Im not an expert but
there are some indicators that ET might suffer from BPD:
- fear of abandonment
- unstable relationships
- impulsive, risky behaviours and suicidal thoughts
- mood swings
- explosive anger
- anxiety
- depression
- unstable plans
- childhood distress/abuse/neglect.

I agree but I just believe she would have had to have also had NPD as well. Those could be symptoms of NPD as well.

 

[Dotta]

I agree but I just believe she would have had to have also had NPD as well. Those could be symptoms of NPD as well.

I agree.

 

[ScottishSam]

I don’t see a crisis, I do see elements of personality disorder. My ex would bombard my phone constantly if I went out, he would threaten/attempt suicide if I tried to leave. He wasn’t in crisis, it was almost like it was the way he was wired. Constant.

We had violent offenders, sex offenders, some from the community, prison transfers and high security step downs; some were addicts and the addiction triggered their mental health conditions. They were all either a risk to themselves or others. They were all unique in their presentation.

I would definitely agree about the personality disorder. Her evidence on the stand suggested quite clearly she felt Arthur had a vendetta against her. The texts back that up too. To describe a 6 year old as evil - no 'normal' functioning adult would even comprehend such a thing. I get the wiring thing too. My mum's best friend was killed by a man very much like your ex (1970s). The night it happened she was on a work's night out. I'm told she was supposed to call him at a certain time. But the nearest phone box was out of order. He beat her up within minutes of her arriving home, then strangled her when she was unconscious. He committed suicide in jail.

 

[ChloLo]

You can have more than one personality disorder at the same time. The effect of each could be equal or one could be more prevalent than the other. Or you could have one and traits of another/others.

 

[ScottishSam]

You can have more than one personality disorder at the same time. The effect of each could be equal or one could be more prevalent than the other. Or you could have one and traits of another/others.

The human brain is such a complex organ, as are people. I think so many advancements have been made in MH. Even how people are treated and viewed by society has changed so much in the last 20 years. It wasn't that long ago that people were kept in institutions, and others were viewed as 'the village idiot'. Treatment options have widened, although funding and placement spaces are inadequate. You're right - what affects one person, doesn't affect a different individual in the same way. There is still a stigma attached though, especially for men. I looked after an ex soldier a few weeks ago, he'd been in Afghanistan and had PTSD. He'd not been coping well with it since leaving the army (he said what happened in August was the final straw), and was on a waiting list to see a specialist. On this particular night he'd attempted suicide. I phoned his dad to let him know he'd been admitted - his response was along the lines of 'He's such a big, strong man I can't understand how he's done this to himself'. Trying to explain to his dad that attitude was part of the problem, it was like hitting my head off a brick wall.

 

[Chessgirl]

The human brain is such a complex organ, as are people. I think so many advancements have been made in MH. Even how people are treated and viewed by society has changed so much in the last 20 years. It wasn't that long ago that people were kept in institutions, and others were viewed as 'the village idiot'. Treatment options have widened, although funding and placement spaces are inadequate. You're right - what affects one person, doesn't affect a different individual in the same way. There is still a stigma attached though, especially for men. I looked after an ex soldier a few weeks ago, he'd been in Afghanistan and had PTSD. He'd not been coping well with it since leaving the army (he said what happened in August was the final straw), and was on a waiting list to see a specialist. On this particular night he'd attempted suicide. I phoned his dad to let him know he'd been admitted - his response was along the lines of 'He's such a big, strong man I can't understand how he's done this to himself'. Trying to explain to his dad that attitude was part of the problem, it was like hitting my head off a brick wall.

That’s so upsetting. It’s true that PTSD alone can cause so many symptoms. Having invalidating parents can be destructive in itself. I feel like everyone should be required to take psychology in school. This is a major problem in society.

 

[ScottishSam]

That’s so upsetting. It’s true that PTSD alone can cause so many symptoms. Having invalidating parents can be destructive in itself. I feel like everyone should be required to take psychology in school. This is a major problem in society.

Yup, I could imagine that all 'my' patient's life he'd been told big boys don't cry, what are you upset for. Emotions are for women. That kind of thing. When his dad said that my heart missed a beat. And no matter how bluntly I put it he couldn't get it. Taking even a year to provide young people with education about psychological health would really help. Although my 18 year old nephews, and 16 year old niece are very clued up on mental health, as are a lot of their friends.

 

[Tinksx]

Off topic in terms of Arthur, but on topic otherwise…. Complex PTSD is another diagnosis to take on board

 

[ScottishSam]

Off topic in terms of Arthur, but on topic otherwise…. Complex PTSD is another diagnosis to take on board

ET admitted to watching Arthur constantly, so very much hypervigilant. All children fight, my 2 are at it constantly just now. She seemed to be OK with her son hitting Arthur, but not Arthur hitting her son. The umbrella incident springs to mind - who in their right mind encourages children to fight?

 

[Chessgirl]

Off topic in terms of Arthur, but on topic otherwise…. Complex PTSD is another diagnosis to take on board

Yes I was just thinking this! In fact CPTSD and BPD look very very similar.

 

[Chessgirl]

ET admitted to watching Arthur constantly, so very much hypervigilant. All children fight, my 2 are at it constantly just now. She seemed to be OK with her son hitting Arthur, but not Arthur hitting her son. The umbrella incident springs to mind - who in their right mind encourages children to fight?

A very cruel person lacking remorse and empathy. A person in need of a punching bag for the family. A sadistic person.

 

[Carroll520]

Jonas Hankin is just about to start his grilling of TH. I feel a bit emotional. He was on fire with ET. Lets hope hes the same with TH. Time for Arthurs voice to be heard

 

[Tinksx]

10:44JAMES CARTLEDGE
Day 33 of the trial begins
Good morning.

Today is day 33 of the trial. Thomas Hughes returns to the witness box.

Prosecutor Jonas Hankin begins his cross-examination.

10:46KEY EVENT
Hughes accepts he valued Tustin's 'love and attention' more than Arthur's welfare
Mr Hankin: "What did Emma Tustin offer you that you valued more than your own son's welfare?"

Hughes: "Because of how mine and Olivia's relationship ended and the difficulties we faced in that, I told Emma about this on the first date and she always assured me she would be the opposite, she would show me the love and attention."

Mr Hankin asks if the 'love and attention' was what he valued more than Arthur's welfare.

Hughes: "Towards the end probably."

He denies he valued Tustin over Arthur from the very start.

Mr Hankin asks why Hughes went back to Tustin in April having left her.

Hughes: "When I asked Arthur about the situation that happened and he changed his story three times, I felt like I had to apologise to Emma."

Mr Hankin puts it to Hughes that Arthur never 'retracted' the allegation of assault towards Tustin.

Hughes: "He did."

Murder trial over death of boy, six, resumes after covid alert - updates

 

[ChloLo]

Barely getting started and I’m already angered.

 

[Tinksx]

11:04JAMES CARTLEDGE
Hughes accepts he should have taken on board his parents' concerns about Arthur
Mr Hankin says that, if Arthur retracted the allegation of Tustin assaulting him, Hughes would not have told police in the hospital that he 'should have believed' Arthur.

Hughes: "He did change his story, I felt like I kept asking him and he was pressured into saying a different story. I wished I believed him when he told me the first time and not kept asking."

Mr Hankin asks if he felt Tustin's home was a 'good environment' for Arthur.

Hughes: "I did. I felt he would be around children his own age, share the same interests."

He says he believed the bruises to Arthur's back were caused by Tustin's son.

Hughes adds he was 'assured nothing like that would happen again' and that Tustin had 'severely told off' her son.

He confirms he did not take his parents' concerns about Arthur 'on board'.
Murder trial over death of boy, six, resumes after covid alert - updates

 

[ChloLo]

Two things from the last bit:
“He’d be around kids his own age” - ETs children with SH were around Arthurs age
“Severely told off her son” - was she really a loving, warm mother?

 

[Carroll520]

Barely getting started and I’m already angered.

Aw bless TH, poor soul, he was craving some love and attention after his last relationship ended. Sure as long as he got that clearly nothing else mattered, not even the welfare of his own son. I hope that love and attention was worth it TH

 

[Tinksx]

11:19KEY EVENT
Hughes says Tustin 'coached' children into 'making up' stories about Arthur's injuries
Hughes says he felt the report to social services from his mother Joanne Hughes was 'an attack on my parenting by my own parents'.

Mr Hankin asks why Hughes never told social services about the bruises to Arthur.

Hughes: "I did not have a time period alone to explain those."

He states Arthur's 'situation was downplayed' adding: "I was always told nothing was wrong with him, he's fine."

Hughes says: "It's not that I didn't choose to (tell social services), I was not able to."

He adds he was 'scared' he would be accused of 'over-thinking'.

Mr Hankin asks who 'coached' the children into making up the story that Arthur's injuries were caused by play-fighting with boxing gloves with Tustin's son.

Hughes: "Emma Tustin. I felt uncomfortable. I wanted to tell the truth and go from there. I was told the children would be taken off us."

Murder trial over death of boy, six, resumes after covid alert - updates