UK - Arthur Labinjo Hughes, 6, killed, dad & friend arrested, June 2020
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Can you imagine meeting this evil day after day, year after year doing your job?
I salute LE and lawyers for their effort to bring Justice.
It is a harrowing career.
I hope they have access to mental health counsel.
It's Hughes' barrister at the moment.
To some degree Tustin reminds me of Sabrina Kouider, murderer with her partner, of their nanny Sophie Lionnet, in London in 2017. Sophie was tortured by beatings and starved and kept isolated before they murdered her. Kouider was found to have several personality disorders and had also thrown herself off a building when younger. Her partner Medouni just went along with it, like he was under her spell.
Couple had sex while murdered French nanny lay dead nearby, court told
"After the body was found on a bonfire in their garden, Ms Kouider said she lied to police on his instructions.
Under cross-examination, Ms Kouider said: “Everything I done (sic), I did it for him.
...Ms Kouider said: “I reject that. I was not violent.”
The lawyer said: “Secondly, over a number of years you have shown bad temper and violence towards a number of people.
“The further difference – you always blame somebody else for your problems.”
Mr Pownall referred to a diagnosis in May 2017 of depression and borderline personality disorder.
“You can suddenly become aggressive. You do pick on the weak and exploit them.”
He read doctors’ notes detailing how she had jumped from a fourth-floor balcony on her 18th birthday and drank cleaning fluid after breaking up with her fiance when she was 20."
Couple had sex while murdered French nanny lay dead nearby, court told
"After the body was found on a bonfire in their garden, Ms Kouider said she lied to police on his instructions.
Under cross-examination, Ms Kouider said: “Everything I done (sic), I did it for him.
...Ms Kouider said: “I reject that. I was not violent.”
The lawyer said: “Secondly, over a number of years you have shown bad temper and violence towards a number of people.
“The further difference – you always blame somebody else for your problems.”
Mr Pownall referred to a diagnosis in May 2017 of depression and borderline personality disorder.
“You can suddenly become aggressive. You do pick on the weak and exploit them.”
He read doctors’ notes detailing how she had jumped from a fourth-floor balcony on her 18th birthday and drank cleaning fluid after breaking up with her fiance when she was 20."
Exactly!!!
I remember this terrible tragedy. The poor victim was a French aupair.
I’m quite liking the prosecutor he’s doing a great job at highlighting the many holes in her version of events.
Oops! How did I not notice that. Thanks Tortoise.
Mellowmelly
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This case has saddened me so much, the poor boy didn't really stand a chance in life did he . I firmly believe Emma Tustin was the instigator in all of the cruelty, I believe his dad didn't have a back bone and was so desperate to keep his relationship going that he put her before his son and went out of his way by being cruel to Arthur to prove it. Did he have a strong bond with Arthur to begin with ? I really doubt he did, and this is why it was so easy to treat him so badly and allow his cold hearted girlfriend to treat him just as bad, if not worse.
I was just going through the reporting from the beginning, looking for details of the charges, and I found this from the prosecutor's opening statement -
The prosecutor tells the court around 5pm Tustin, who had remained at home, appeared to knock over the camera inside the property seconds before a police officer entered the room.
Girlfriend accused of murdering boy says: 'I would not kill a child' - updates
The prosecutor tells the court around 5pm Tustin, who had remained at home, appeared to knock over the camera inside the property seconds before a police officer entered the room.
Girlfriend accused of murdering boy says: 'I would not kill a child' - updates
These are the charges against each of them -
"Both defendants are charged on count one with the offence of murder. The offence of murder is committed when one person unlawfully kills another either with the intent to kill or intention of causing really serious harm. [...]
Emma Tustin is charged as the principal because she was alone in the house with Arthur when he collapsed. She is the only possible perpetrator. [...]
It's because he shares the culpability because he intentionally encouraged the offence. Mr Hughes is charged as a second party. Abetting means encouraging. It's irrelevant that Mr Hughes wasn't present when the offence was committed. All of his encouragement was given before the offence was committed rather than at the time. [...]
Mr Hankin provides further detail of each child cruelty offence.
He says count two, which Tustin has admitted, refers to forced prolonged standing and/or isolating Arthur within the family home and from his extended family and/or intimidating him physically and/or verbally.
Count three relates to the wilful assault of Arthur.
Count four is concerned with ill-treatment by withholding food and/or drink.
Count five relates to further ill-treatment by the administration of salt. Mr Hankin elaborates, saying it could mean the salt was 'drank in solution or by causing salt to be taken by adulterating his food and drink with salt compelling him to ingest it'."
Girlfriend accused of murdering boy says: 'I would not kill a child' - updates
"Both defendants are charged on count one with the offence of murder. The offence of murder is committed when one person unlawfully kills another either with the intent to kill or intention of causing really serious harm. [...]
Emma Tustin is charged as the principal because she was alone in the house with Arthur when he collapsed. She is the only possible perpetrator. [...]
It's because he shares the culpability because he intentionally encouraged the offence. Mr Hughes is charged as a second party. Abetting means encouraging. It's irrelevant that Mr Hughes wasn't present when the offence was committed. All of his encouragement was given before the offence was committed rather than at the time. [...]
Mr Hankin provides further detail of each child cruelty offence.
He says count two, which Tustin has admitted, refers to forced prolonged standing and/or isolating Arthur within the family home and from his extended family and/or intimidating him physically and/or verbally.
Count three relates to the wilful assault of Arthur.
Count four is concerned with ill-treatment by withholding food and/or drink.
Count five relates to further ill-treatment by the administration of salt. Mr Hankin elaborates, saying it could mean the salt was 'drank in solution or by causing salt to be taken by adulterating his food and drink with salt compelling him to ingest it'."
Girlfriend accused of murdering boy says: 'I would not kill a child' - updates
More from prosecutor's opening statement -
"Thomas Hughes suggested he acted reasonably in difficult circumstances. The prosecution say you will have little difficulty rejecting that. HIs conduct and breach of trust were wholly irreconcilable with the love a father should show to his son.
Emma Tustin will argue Arthur's injuries were self-inflicted, an act of self harm."
Girlfriend accused of murdering boy says: 'I would not kill a child' - updates
"Thomas Hughes suggested he acted reasonably in difficult circumstances. The prosecution say you will have little difficulty rejecting that. HIs conduct and breach of trust were wholly irreconcilable with the love a father should show to his son.
Emma Tustin will argue Arthur's injuries were self-inflicted, an act of self harm."
Girlfriend accused of murdering boy says: 'I would not kill a child' - updates
Probably why she pleaded guilty to count two, IMO -
"On one video Tustin can be heard saying: "You've been told to stand by the door so do it. Do it."
Girlfriend accused of murdering boy says: 'I would not kill a child' - updates
"On one video Tustin can be heard saying: "You've been told to stand by the door so do it. Do it."
Girlfriend accused of murdering boy says: 'I would not kill a child' - updates
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fair play to the woman she shared a cell with who made a statement about what Tustin said. She really is very evil. I can't believe we are reading about 2 trials at the same time about women who murdered children last year (Star Hobson's case). The world just seems so cruel right now
10:36JAMES CARTLEDGE
Day 27 of trial starts
Good morning.
The trial resumes for day 27.
The hearing continues with the cross-examination of Emma Tustin by Bernard Richmond QC, representing her co-defendant Thomas Hughes.
10:37JAMES CARTLEDGE
Tustin asked to clarify what happened with the tortoise
Mr Richmond asks Tustin to clarify what happened with the tortoise.
Tustin says she had the tortoise at the end of April and that Arthur dropped it 'a few weeks later', confirming it must have been some time in May.
She tells the court when she went into custody her ex-partner Shane Hawkins took care of it, but he took the tortoise to the vets four days afterwards and it died.
Mr Richmond states that Tustin never took the animal to the vets herself after it was dropped.
Tusitn states the tortoise's eyes were closed and that Hughes called the vets. She says they did an assessment over the phone and advised them to bathe its eyes. Tustin says the eyes opened but the tortoise was 'quite poorly afterwards'.
Girlfriend accused of murdering boy says: 'I would not kill a child' - updates
Day 27 of trial starts
Good morning.
The trial resumes for day 27.
The hearing continues with the cross-examination of Emma Tustin by Bernard Richmond QC, representing her co-defendant Thomas Hughes.
10:37JAMES CARTLEDGE
Tustin asked to clarify what happened with the tortoise
Mr Richmond asks Tustin to clarify what happened with the tortoise.
Tustin says she had the tortoise at the end of April and that Arthur dropped it 'a few weeks later', confirming it must have been some time in May.
She tells the court when she went into custody her ex-partner Shane Hawkins took care of it, but he took the tortoise to the vets four days afterwards and it died.
Mr Richmond states that Tustin never took the animal to the vets herself after it was dropped.
Tusitn states the tortoise's eyes were closed and that Hughes called the vets. She says they did an assessment over the phone and advised them to bathe its eyes. Tustin says the eyes opened but the tortoise was 'quite poorly afterwards'.
Girlfriend accused of murdering boy says: 'I would not kill a child' - updates
11:00JAMES CARTLEDGE
Tustin says Arthur's behaviour 'stressed' her own children
Mr Richmond asks Tustin about a message she sent saying: "Little c*** said he's going to hit the baby in my belly."
Tustin says Arthur did say that and also that he would kill his father in the night.
Mr Richmond asks her about another message where she said: 'You will have to take him, I can't take this anymore'. She also said in the text her own children were 'angry and upset by him and copying his behaviour'.
Tustin said: "They started saying: 'I'm leaving this house'. They packed their rucksacks. They would go into the garden, to the gate or front door, and say they were leaving.
"Their behaviour didn't change as such, they were shouting a lot of the time. His behaviour was wearing off on them. Things he was doing really stressed them out. I failed to act on that at the time. They also said nobody loves them, 'nobody loves me, nobody loves me'."
Judge Wall raises a jury question and asks if Tustin put her own children on the thinking step when they started 'copying' Arthur's behaviour.
Tustin says 'yes'. She tells the court she made them sit at a table and chairs for 20 minutes and adds: "It wasn't the extent of Arthur's behaviour. It was things they were saying, leaving, going out of the house, nobody loves me. It wasn't the extent of Arthur's behaviour they were copying. They knew that was wrong. It was just verbal."
11:08JAMES CARTLEDGE
Tustin branded Arthur a 'little c***'
Mr Richmond asks about a message where Tustin said 'I'm going to chin this little c***' and also called him a 'little idiot' while asking for his breakfast.
Tustin says Arthur was 'demanding' she do his breakfast and called her a 'slave'.
She also makes reference to the 'notes' she has been making during the trial. Mr Richmond says she has mentioned the notes numerous times and if she continues to do so he would ask to see them.
Tustin says she is happy for that to happen because it would 'actually help me out'.
Mr Richmond asks about a message where she said 'tell that little c*** he has won'.
Tustin: "I felt Arthur was in the middle of us. His behaviour was putting a strain on the relationship. Arthur was naughty Tom would take it out on me.
"Yes I wanted him to go back to his nan's. Even though Tom said he would sleep in the car, I don't believe he would have done that."
She adds she had 'drummed it into Tom' to let Arthur go back to his nan's but he refused.
Girlfriend accused of murdering boy says: 'I would not kill a child' - updates
Tustin says Arthur's behaviour 'stressed' her own children
Mr Richmond asks Tustin about a message she sent saying: "Little c*** said he's going to hit the baby in my belly."
Tustin says Arthur did say that and also that he would kill his father in the night.
Mr Richmond asks her about another message where she said: 'You will have to take him, I can't take this anymore'. She also said in the text her own children were 'angry and upset by him and copying his behaviour'.
Tustin said: "They started saying: 'I'm leaving this house'. They packed their rucksacks. They would go into the garden, to the gate or front door, and say they were leaving.
"Their behaviour didn't change as such, they were shouting a lot of the time. His behaviour was wearing off on them. Things he was doing really stressed them out. I failed to act on that at the time. They also said nobody loves them, 'nobody loves me, nobody loves me'."
Judge Wall raises a jury question and asks if Tustin put her own children on the thinking step when they started 'copying' Arthur's behaviour.
Tustin says 'yes'. She tells the court she made them sit at a table and chairs for 20 minutes and adds: "It wasn't the extent of Arthur's behaviour. It was things they were saying, leaving, going out of the house, nobody loves me. It wasn't the extent of Arthur's behaviour they were copying. They knew that was wrong. It was just verbal."
11:08JAMES CARTLEDGE
Tustin branded Arthur a 'little c***'
Mr Richmond asks about a message where Tustin said 'I'm going to chin this little c***' and also called him a 'little idiot' while asking for his breakfast.
Tustin says Arthur was 'demanding' she do his breakfast and called her a 'slave'.
She also makes reference to the 'notes' she has been making during the trial. Mr Richmond says she has mentioned the notes numerous times and if she continues to do so he would ask to see them.
Tustin says she is happy for that to happen because it would 'actually help me out'.
Mr Richmond asks about a message where she said 'tell that little c*** he has won'.
Tustin: "I felt Arthur was in the middle of us. His behaviour was putting a strain on the relationship. Arthur was naughty Tom would take it out on me.
"Yes I wanted him to go back to his nan's. Even though Tom said he would sleep in the car, I don't believe he would have done that."
She adds she had 'drummed it into Tom' to let Arthur go back to his nan's but he refused.
Girlfriend accused of murdering boy says: 'I would not kill a child' - updates
11:20JAMES CARTLEDGE
Tustin says she would not use a child as a 'weapon'
Tustin says Arthur called her daughter a 'fat ugly b****' which caused her to want to 'starve herself'. She adds Arthur pushed her daughter which left a bruise on her hip.
Mr Richmond asks about a message where she called Hughes a 'joke', made reference to 'all the b******* I have put up with' and said he had 'let him win again'.
He asks if she accused Hughes of putting Arthur first.
Tustin replies 'yes' and adds there was an 'innocent child' and 'two other children who didn't know what was going on'.
Mr Richmond: "You told Tom on two occasions he would never see that baby."
Tustin: "No I thought I was going to lose the baby. He didn't care about that child."
She adds: "Tom isn't that special I would use that child. You have spoke to Shane. We have two children. I never used them as a weapon. It's not something I would do."
11:23JAMES CARTLEDGE
Tustin says Hughes wanted to put Arthur up for adoption because he 'couldn't cope with him'
Mr Richmond asks about a message where Tustin said: "I want you but not him. I'm not being treated like that by him neither are my kids."
Hughes had replied 'it can't be one, it's both or none' to which Tustin responded 'cya'.
Mr Richmond also relays that Tustin said: "You don't even want him that's the thing."
Tustin explains: "There was a conversation before that he wanted to put him up for adoption because he couldn't cope with him anymore."
Mr Richmond asks Tustin why her allegation that Hughes threatened to lie to social services so her children would be taken from her, was not brought up in her police interviews.
Tustin: "I don't know where it is, there were a lot of interviews. Things have been said that are not in interviews."
Girlfriend accused of murdering boy says: 'I would not kill a child' - updates
Tustin says she would not use a child as a 'weapon'
Tustin says Arthur called her daughter a 'fat ugly b****' which caused her to want to 'starve herself'. She adds Arthur pushed her daughter which left a bruise on her hip.
Mr Richmond asks about a message where she called Hughes a 'joke', made reference to 'all the b******* I have put up with' and said he had 'let him win again'.
He asks if she accused Hughes of putting Arthur first.
Tustin replies 'yes' and adds there was an 'innocent child' and 'two other children who didn't know what was going on'.
Mr Richmond: "You told Tom on two occasions he would never see that baby."
Tustin: "No I thought I was going to lose the baby. He didn't care about that child."
She adds: "Tom isn't that special I would use that child. You have spoke to Shane. We have two children. I never used them as a weapon. It's not something I would do."
11:23JAMES CARTLEDGE
Tustin says Hughes wanted to put Arthur up for adoption because he 'couldn't cope with him'
Mr Richmond asks about a message where Tustin said: "I want you but not him. I'm not being treated like that by him neither are my kids."
Hughes had replied 'it can't be one, it's both or none' to which Tustin responded 'cya'.
Mr Richmond also relays that Tustin said: "You don't even want him that's the thing."
Tustin explains: "There was a conversation before that he wanted to put him up for adoption because he couldn't cope with him anymore."
Mr Richmond asks Tustin why her allegation that Hughes threatened to lie to social services so her children would be taken from her, was not brought up in her police interviews.
Tustin: "I don't know where it is, there were a lot of interviews. Things have been said that are not in interviews."
Girlfriend accused of murdering boy says: 'I would not kill a child' - updates
11:32JAMES CARTLEDGE
Tustin denies she was 'jealous' of Arthur
Mr Richmond goes to ask a question about Hughes allegedly hitting Arthur but Tustin starts to answer before he finishes.
Mr Richmond: "This is the way you behaved to Tom isn't it? You didn't let him finish when he was trying to talk. You kept making the same point again and again and again."
Tustin: "No, because you are calling me a liar. It's not the truth. You wasn't there. Tom did hit Arthur around the head on many occasions."
She denies ever kicking Arthur or prodding him in the foot adding: "Is there any evidence to suggest I did? No I did not."
Mr Richmond: "You never liked it when he and his dad played together. You were jealous of Arthur weren't you?"
Tustin: "That's what you are suggesting? No I was not. Nope. Why would I be jealous of a child?"
Girlfriend accused of murdering boy says: 'I would not kill a child' - updates
Tustin denies she was 'jealous' of Arthur
Mr Richmond goes to ask a question about Hughes allegedly hitting Arthur but Tustin starts to answer before he finishes.
Mr Richmond: "This is the way you behaved to Tom isn't it? You didn't let him finish when he was trying to talk. You kept making the same point again and again and again."
Tustin: "No, because you are calling me a liar. It's not the truth. You wasn't there. Tom did hit Arthur around the head on many occasions."
She denies ever kicking Arthur or prodding him in the foot adding: "Is there any evidence to suggest I did? No I did not."
Mr Richmond: "You never liked it when he and his dad played together. You were jealous of Arthur weren't you?"
Tustin: "That's what you are suggesting? No I was not. Nope. Why would I be jealous of a child?"
Girlfriend accused of murdering boy says: 'I would not kill a child' - updates
11:40KEY EVENT
Tustin accused of giving Arthur a 'vast amount of salt' and then 'killing him'
Mr Richmond puts it to Tustin that she continued to make Arthur's meals up until his death in June which 'gave you the opportunity to tip salt on any food you had given him'.
He adds that Tustin 'controlled the food and controlled the salt in the family'.
Tustin: "No. There was no salt on any meals. The only reason I had salt was for the reason the court has already heard. For myself. He was poisoned, he wasn't salt-poisoned by me.
"I know I didn't poison Arthur. Somebody did. That person was not me."
Mr Richmond: "You manipulated Tom from the moment you got together. You manipulated the food in that house. You manipulated the relationship between him and Arthur. When it didn't work you got more and more frustrated.
"On June 16 you gave that poor little boy a vast amount of salt. Then when he was in the hallway, already struggling from the injuries you began causing to him that day, you killed him."
Tustin, who repeatedly says 'no' during the barrister's statement adds: "No I did not."
Mr Richmond concludes his cross-examination. Judge Wall raises a jury question and asks Tustin if she witnessed Hughes give Arthur salt or if she ever spoke about salt with Hughes.
Tustin: "No we didn't speak about salt. I didn't realise it was a thing. There were no conversations about salt."
Girlfriend accused of murdering boy says: 'I would not kill a child' - updates
Tustin accused of giving Arthur a 'vast amount of salt' and then 'killing him'
Mr Richmond puts it to Tustin that she continued to make Arthur's meals up until his death in June which 'gave you the opportunity to tip salt on any food you had given him'.
He adds that Tustin 'controlled the food and controlled the salt in the family'.
Tustin: "No. There was no salt on any meals. The only reason I had salt was for the reason the court has already heard. For myself. He was poisoned, he wasn't salt-poisoned by me.
"I know I didn't poison Arthur. Somebody did. That person was not me."
Mr Richmond: "You manipulated Tom from the moment you got together. You manipulated the food in that house. You manipulated the relationship between him and Arthur. When it didn't work you got more and more frustrated.
"On June 16 you gave that poor little boy a vast amount of salt. Then when he was in the hallway, already struggling from the injuries you began causing to him that day, you killed him."
Tustin, who repeatedly says 'no' during the barrister's statement adds: "No I did not."
Mr Richmond concludes his cross-examination. Judge Wall raises a jury question and asks Tustin if she witnessed Hughes give Arthur salt or if she ever spoke about salt with Hughes.
Tustin: "No we didn't speak about salt. I didn't realise it was a thing. There were no conversations about salt."
Girlfriend accused of murdering boy says: 'I would not kill a child' - updates
12:18JAMES CARTLEDGE
Prosecution begins cross-examination of Tustin
Following a short break, Judge Wall addresses the jury on the 'notes' Tustin has made during the trial.
He says they are covered by 'legal professional privilege'. Judge Wall says Mr Richmond has not formally requested the notes and, even if he were to, he would not permit them to be made available.
There is an issue which Mr Richmond may revisit at a later stage in the trial but for now he has concluded his questions.
Prosecutor Jonas Hankin commences his cross-examination of Tustin.
Girlfriend accused of murdering boy says: 'I would not kill a child' - updates
Prosecution begins cross-examination of Tustin
Following a short break, Judge Wall addresses the jury on the 'notes' Tustin has made during the trial.
He says they are covered by 'legal professional privilege'. Judge Wall says Mr Richmond has not formally requested the notes and, even if he were to, he would not permit them to be made available.
There is an issue which Mr Richmond may revisit at a later stage in the trial but for now he has concluded his questions.
Prosecutor Jonas Hankin commences his cross-examination of Tustin.
Girlfriend accused of murdering boy says: 'I would not kill a child' - updates
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