UK - Arthur Labinjo Hughes, 6, killed, dad & friend arrested, June 2020
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12:24KEY EVENT
Tustin admits she blames Arthur for causing his own death and says it wasn't her fault
Mr Hankin: "Do you blame Arthur for causing his own death?"
Tustin: "I do yes."
Mr Hankin: "Do you consider yourself responsible in any way for Arthur's death?"
Tustin: "No, I did try to stop him doing what he did. I heard a bang and didn't see it. I don't think I could have done anything to change that."
Mr Hankin asks Tustin why she did not alert social services herself if she thought Arthur was in danger.
Tustin: "He was in danger. I failed to protect him. Living in that situation apart from Tom only I knew the extent of the abuse. He would have found out I did it. I was scared for myself and my kids."
Girlfriend accused of murdering boy says: 'I would not kill a child' - updates
Tustin admits she blames Arthur for causing his own death and says it wasn't her fault
Mr Hankin: "Do you blame Arthur for causing his own death?"
Tustin: "I do yes."
Mr Hankin: "Do you consider yourself responsible in any way for Arthur's death?"
Tustin: "No, I did try to stop him doing what he did. I heard a bang and didn't see it. I don't think I could have done anything to change that."
Mr Hankin asks Tustin why she did not alert social services herself if she thought Arthur was in danger.
Tustin: "He was in danger. I failed to protect him. Living in that situation apart from Tom only I knew the extent of the abuse. He would have found out I did it. I was scared for myself and my kids."
Girlfriend accused of murdering boy says: 'I would not kill a child' - updates
They haven't mentioned it but I would think most definitely he is.Thank you
I have a question - is TH present and listening?
12:36JAMES CARTLEDGE
'What he needed was care and affection not cruelty'
Mr Hankin puts it to Tustin that Arthur was a 'vulnerable little boy' when he came into her care in March.
Tustin: "He was a little out-of-sorts. Not highly vulnerable, no."
Mr Hankin says Arthur's mother was in prison, his father was in a new relationship, he was living in a new home, he was separated from his extended family and had previously experienced violence in his home.
Tustin: "He didn't always act, he didn't always seem like those things bothered him."
She then accepts he was vulnerable.
Mr Hankin: "What he needed was care and affection not cruelty."
Tustin: "Yes."
Mr Hankin: "Why did you subject him to a campaign of cruelty in the weeks that followed?"
Tustin: "I can't tell you why I did that. Things got tough for me, Tom and Arthur."
Mr Hankin questions why Arthur is third in her list. He says: "Me first would be a good catchphrase for you wouldn't it?"
Tustin: "No I was struggling, it did get me down. Got Tom and Arthur and my children down."
Girlfriend accused of murdering boy says: 'I would not kill a child' - updates
'What he needed was care and affection not cruelty'
Mr Hankin puts it to Tustin that Arthur was a 'vulnerable little boy' when he came into her care in March.
Tustin: "He was a little out-of-sorts. Not highly vulnerable, no."
Mr Hankin says Arthur's mother was in prison, his father was in a new relationship, he was living in a new home, he was separated from his extended family and had previously experienced violence in his home.
Tustin: "He didn't always act, he didn't always seem like those things bothered him."
She then accepts he was vulnerable.
Mr Hankin: "What he needed was care and affection not cruelty."
Tustin: "Yes."
Mr Hankin: "Why did you subject him to a campaign of cruelty in the weeks that followed?"
Tustin: "I can't tell you why I did that. Things got tough for me, Tom and Arthur."
Mr Hankin questions why Arthur is third in her list. He says: "Me first would be a good catchphrase for you wouldn't it?"
Tustin: "No I was struggling, it did get me down. Got Tom and Arthur and my children down."
Girlfriend accused of murdering boy says: 'I would not kill a child' - updates
12:47JAMES CARTLEDGE
Tustin admits she 'didn't consider' Arthur's feelings over 'grossly abnormal' way of looking after him
Mr Hankin asks Tustin what she was feeling when she recorded the footage of Arthur hitting himself in the face.
Tustin: "I just thought he was being naughty. Looking for attention. I didn't know what I was feeling at that point."
Mr Hankin: "You hated that little boy didn't you? How else could you have treated him in this way?"
Tustin: "No. It was wrong the way I treated him. I didn't hate him."
Mr Hankin asks if she feels Arthur hitting himself in the face was a product of her cruelty as opposed to any pre-existing causes.
Tustin: "It added to it, yes. With the issues he had it contributed yes."
Mr Hankin asks Tustin if she recognises how 'grossly abnormal' her attitude was and if she recognises what she was doing was 'contrary to every conceivable rule for caring for a child'.
Tustin: "All I was doing was covering my own back because he was saying I was hitting him and I wasn't. I didn't consider his feelings no."
Girlfriend accused of murdering boy says: 'I would not kill a child' - updates
Tustin admits she 'didn't consider' Arthur's feelings over 'grossly abnormal' way of looking after him
Mr Hankin asks Tustin what she was feeling when she recorded the footage of Arthur hitting himself in the face.
Tustin: "I just thought he was being naughty. Looking for attention. I didn't know what I was feeling at that point."
Mr Hankin: "You hated that little boy didn't you? How else could you have treated him in this way?"
Tustin: "No. It was wrong the way I treated him. I didn't hate him."
Mr Hankin asks if she feels Arthur hitting himself in the face was a product of her cruelty as opposed to any pre-existing causes.
Tustin: "It added to it, yes. With the issues he had it contributed yes."
Mr Hankin asks Tustin if she recognises how 'grossly abnormal' her attitude was and if she recognises what she was doing was 'contrary to every conceivable rule for caring for a child'.
Tustin: "All I was doing was covering my own back because he was saying I was hitting him and I wasn't. I didn't consider his feelings no."
Girlfriend accused of murdering boy says: 'I would not kill a child' - updates
13:12JAMES CARTLEDGE
Tustin would have sought help for her own son had he been hitting himself in face
Tustin accepts if it had been her own son hitting himself in the face she would have sought help for him.
She accepts she did nothing to stop the cruelty to Arthur.
Mr Hankin: "You actually enjoyed making Arthur suffer."
Tustin: "No I just thought that was naughty behaviour at that point. Crying out for attention."
Mr Hankin: "Are you listening to yourself? Have you any remorse for what happened to Arthur? You blamed him for causing his own death."
Tustin: "I do yes. I didn't cause his death. I didn't know what was going to happen."
Mr Hankin asks Tustin about her 'terminology', in particular her description of Arthur 'throwing himself' about.
He asks if what she really meant was that Arthur was 'collapsing with exhaustion'. Tustin accepts that it is correct.
Girlfriend accused of murdering boy says: 'I would not kill a child' - updates
Tustin would have sought help for her own son had he been hitting himself in face
Tustin accepts if it had been her own son hitting himself in the face she would have sought help for him.
She accepts she did nothing to stop the cruelty to Arthur.
Mr Hankin: "You actually enjoyed making Arthur suffer."
Tustin: "No I just thought that was naughty behaviour at that point. Crying out for attention."
Mr Hankin: "Are you listening to yourself? Have you any remorse for what happened to Arthur? You blamed him for causing his own death."
Tustin: "I do yes. I didn't cause his death. I didn't know what was going to happen."
Mr Hankin asks Tustin about her 'terminology', in particular her description of Arthur 'throwing himself' about.
He asks if what she really meant was that Arthur was 'collapsing with exhaustion'. Tustin accepts that it is correct.
Girlfriend accused of murdering boy says: 'I would not kill a child' - updates
13:13JAMES CARTLEDGE
'I couldn't be bothered with the daily stress he was causing'
Tustin accepts the prosecutor's suggestion she 'held Arthur responsible' when he collapsed into her legs.
Mr Hankin: "What level of disregard for Arthur's welfare did you have at that time?"
Tustin: "At that time I did disregard him. I just continued with the normal day. I didn't communicate with him. I didn't give him time. I disregarded his feelings when previously I haven't done that. I give up on it."
She adds: "I disregarded him. I couldn't be bothered with the daily stress he was causing."
Mr Hankin: "Arthur annoyed you didn't he. You resented him and you hated him. You took pleasure in making him suffer."
Tustin accepts Arthur annoyed her but denies the other statements.
Girlfriend accused of murdering boy says: 'I would not kill a child' - updates
'I couldn't be bothered with the daily stress he was causing'
Tustin accepts the prosecutor's suggestion she 'held Arthur responsible' when he collapsed into her legs.
Mr Hankin: "What level of disregard for Arthur's welfare did you have at that time?"
Tustin: "At that time I did disregard him. I just continued with the normal day. I didn't communicate with him. I didn't give him time. I disregarded his feelings when previously I haven't done that. I give up on it."
She adds: "I disregarded him. I couldn't be bothered with the daily stress he was causing."
Mr Hankin: "Arthur annoyed you didn't he. You resented him and you hated him. You took pleasure in making him suffer."
Tustin accepts Arthur annoyed her but denies the other statements.
Girlfriend accused of murdering boy says: 'I would not kill a child' - updates
13:14KEY EVENT
'You were in this movie - you did this to him'
Mr Hankin challenges Tustin's claim Arthur was allowed to sleep in her daughter's bed when she was not there.
He takes her to the events of Friday, June 12, when her daughter was staying elsewhere and the footage showed Arthur going to bed on the living room floor.
Tustin: "It got to the point he was just ripping everything. So he slept downstairs. In April and May he did sleep in her bed. From the end of May he was downstairs all of the time."
Mr Hankin reminds Tustin that Arthur had spent more than 14 hours in the hallway on June 12.
Tustin: "I'm disgusted. I can't tell you why."
Mr Hankin describes Tustin as 'pitiless' and states she 'deliberately' treated Arthur this way.
Tustin: "I did. I didn't think it was deliberate. I didn't realise how bad things were."
She adds it was 'horrendous'.
Mr Hankin: "You are not here to watch television and comment on it. You were in this movie. You did this to him."
Tustin: "It's horrendous. I can't explain it."
Girlfriend accused of murdering boy says: 'I would not kill a child' - updates
'You were in this movie - you did this to him'
Mr Hankin challenges Tustin's claim Arthur was allowed to sleep in her daughter's bed when she was not there.
He takes her to the events of Friday, June 12, when her daughter was staying elsewhere and the footage showed Arthur going to bed on the living room floor.
Tustin: "It got to the point he was just ripping everything. So he slept downstairs. In April and May he did sleep in her bed. From the end of May he was downstairs all of the time."
Mr Hankin reminds Tustin that Arthur had spent more than 14 hours in the hallway on June 12.
Tustin: "I'm disgusted. I can't tell you why."
Mr Hankin describes Tustin as 'pitiless' and states she 'deliberately' treated Arthur this way.
Tustin: "I did. I didn't think it was deliberate. I didn't realise how bad things were."
She adds it was 'horrendous'.
Mr Hankin: "You are not here to watch television and comment on it. You were in this movie. You did this to him."
Tustin: "It's horrendous. I can't explain it."
Girlfriend accused of murdering boy says: 'I would not kill a child' - updates
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13:27JAMES CARTLEDGE
Tustin admits she received better care from the police after her arrest than Arthur did in her house
Mr Hankin takes the court to living room footage showing Tustin lying on the sofa beneath a blanket 'nice and cosy' while Arthur was standing in the hallway.
He says: "What about the mental suffering? Like a prisoner. Worse than a prisoner. You were treated better by the police when you were in custody."
Tustin: "I was yes."
Mr Hankin tells the court Arthur wore the same onesie from Friday, June 12 until he collapsed on Tuesday, June 16.
He puts it to Tustin that she put him in the onesie on the Friday.
Tustin: "No, I called Tom he told me what onesie to get out for him. That's what I done."
In a later exchange Mr Hankin says: "You lie instinctively don't you. Have you always been like this? Have you lied your way through life?"
Tustin: "No."
Girlfriend accused of murdering boy says: 'I would not kill a child' - updates
Tustin admits she received better care from the police after her arrest than Arthur did in her house
Mr Hankin takes the court to living room footage showing Tustin lying on the sofa beneath a blanket 'nice and cosy' while Arthur was standing in the hallway.
He says: "What about the mental suffering? Like a prisoner. Worse than a prisoner. You were treated better by the police when you were in custody."
Tustin: "I was yes."
Mr Hankin tells the court Arthur wore the same onesie from Friday, June 12 until he collapsed on Tuesday, June 16.
He puts it to Tustin that she put him in the onesie on the Friday.
Tustin: "No, I called Tom he told me what onesie to get out for him. That's what I done."
In a later exchange Mr Hankin says: "You lie instinctively don't you. Have you always been like this? Have you lied your way through life?"
Tustin: "No."
Girlfriend accused of murdering boy says: 'I would not kill a child' - updates
13:28KEY EVENT
'You are a pitiless, cruel woman and you hated that boy', Tustin is told
The footage of Tustin hitting Arthur on the back of the head after he fell down in the living room on June 15 is replayed.
Mr Hankin: "Can you explain how that is naughty behaviour?"
Tustin: "I can't now."
Mr Hankin: "It's not good enough. You were there, you tell us how you possibly could have interpreted Arthur's physical condition, his movement, as naughtiness?"
He adds: "Because you are a pitiless, cruel woman and you hated that boy. You treated him as if he was no longer a boy, just an obstacle to you and your relationship with your lover, Thomas Hughes."
Tustin denies that is the case.
Girlfriend accused of murdering boy says: 'I would not kill a child' - updates
'You are a pitiless, cruel woman and you hated that boy', Tustin is told
The footage of Tustin hitting Arthur on the back of the head after he fell down in the living room on June 15 is replayed.
Mr Hankin: "Can you explain how that is naughty behaviour?"
Tustin: "I can't now."
Mr Hankin: "It's not good enough. You were there, you tell us how you possibly could have interpreted Arthur's physical condition, his movement, as naughtiness?"
He adds: "Because you are a pitiless, cruel woman and you hated that boy. You treated him as if he was no longer a boy, just an obstacle to you and your relationship with your lover, Thomas Hughes."
Tustin denies that is the case.
Girlfriend accused of murdering boy says: 'I would not kill a child' - updates
13:50JAMES CARTLEDGE
Tustin says she 'cannot justify' behaviour as jury again show footage of her holding Arthur by his clothes
Mr Hankin asks Tustin about the photograph of bruises on Arthur's back taken by Joanne Hughes in April.
Tustin repeats her account that the bruises were not visible when social services visited her home the following day.
Mr Hankin: "That's what you do when presented with incontrovertible evidence, you deny, deny, deny."
Tustin: "No I am not going to say they was there when they weren't."
Living room footage from June 13 is replayed. It shows Tustin shouting at Arthur as he walked into the kitchen and then Tustin holding his clothes by his neck as she forced him back into the hallway.
Mr Hankin: "Is that you losing your temper? Is that you assaulting Arthur?"
Tustin: "I suppose so. Yes."
Mr Hankin: "Let's watch it again."
Tustin: "Do we have to?"
She says she 'cannot justify my behaviour'.
Girlfriend accused of murdering boy says: 'I would not kill a child' - updates
Tustin says she 'cannot justify' behaviour as jury again show footage of her holding Arthur by his clothes
Mr Hankin asks Tustin about the photograph of bruises on Arthur's back taken by Joanne Hughes in April.
Tustin repeats her account that the bruises were not visible when social services visited her home the following day.
Mr Hankin: "That's what you do when presented with incontrovertible evidence, you deny, deny, deny."
Tustin: "No I am not going to say they was there when they weren't."
Living room footage from June 13 is replayed. It shows Tustin shouting at Arthur as he walked into the kitchen and then Tustin holding his clothes by his neck as she forced him back into the hallway.
Mr Hankin: "Is that you losing your temper? Is that you assaulting Arthur?"
Tustin: "I suppose so. Yes."
Mr Hankin: "Let's watch it again."
Tustin: "Do we have to?"
She says she 'cannot justify my behaviour'.
Girlfriend accused of murdering boy says: 'I would not kill a child' - updates
13:53KEY EVENT
Tustin says she wants to plead guilty to a count of assault
The footage of Tustin pulling the bedding from underneath Arthur on June 15 is replayed.
Mr Hankin: "Tell the jury why you persisted in ill-treating him."
Tustin: "I can't. There's no reason that would ever be good enough for that behaviour."
Mr Hankin: "Correct."
Now, the clip from later that same day of Tustin hitting Arthur to the back of the head is replayed once more.
Mr Hankin: "You assaulted him again didn't you.?"
Tustin: "I did yes."
Mr Hankin: "Do you want to plead guilty to the count of assault?"
Tustin: "I do yes."
13:54KEY EVENT
'You are utterly remorseless for what you have done to Arthur aren't you?'
The court is played body-worn camera footage of Tustin speaking to police after Arthur's collapse on June 16, and then of her leaving the house with Arthur and her children to go to Catherine Milhench's home on June 15.
Mr Hankin challenges Tustin on her accounts of both events.
He says: "You are utterly remorseless for what you have done to Arthur aren't you?"
Tustin: "No I'm not."
Mr Hankin: "It is another example of you being caught out in a lie."
Tustin denies that is the case. The trial adjourns for lunch.
Girlfriend accused of murdering boy says: 'I would not kill a child' - updates
Tustin says she wants to plead guilty to a count of assault
The footage of Tustin pulling the bedding from underneath Arthur on June 15 is replayed.
Mr Hankin: "Tell the jury why you persisted in ill-treating him."
Tustin: "I can't. There's no reason that would ever be good enough for that behaviour."
Mr Hankin: "Correct."
Now, the clip from later that same day of Tustin hitting Arthur to the back of the head is replayed once more.
Mr Hankin: "You assaulted him again didn't you.?"
Tustin: "I did yes."
Mr Hankin: "Do you want to plead guilty to the count of assault?"
Tustin: "I do yes."
13:54KEY EVENT
'You are utterly remorseless for what you have done to Arthur aren't you?'
The court is played body-worn camera footage of Tustin speaking to police after Arthur's collapse on June 16, and then of her leaving the house with Arthur and her children to go to Catherine Milhench's home on June 15.
Mr Hankin challenges Tustin on her accounts of both events.
He says: "You are utterly remorseless for what you have done to Arthur aren't you?"
Tustin: "No I'm not."
Mr Hankin: "It is another example of you being caught out in a lie."
Tustin denies that is the case. The trial adjourns for lunch.
Girlfriend accused of murdering boy says: 'I would not kill a child' - updates
I've been wondering about this. Earlier reporting said that there was footage of her leaving the house with Arthur on 15th and getting in a taxi to go to her hairdresser's. There was no description reported of him being on the ground yet she texted Hughes and told him Arthur wouldn't get in the taxi and had thrown himself on the ground and been banging his head on the drive.
I suspect a lot of her texts were lies to incite Hughes to punish Arthur more, like on the day of his death she texted Hughes when he was out buying her birthday cake and said Arthur had spat his food out, but in court it was said by the police officer playing back the video footage that she hadn't taken any food to him in the hall during that period after they got back from the hairdresser's.
Exactly. She constantly lied to Hughes about Arthur’s behavior. She’s been caught in many of those lies. What I don’t understand is how did Hughes not catch on that she was lying. He had to have known his son wasn’t doing all those things. I wonder if Hughes knew of the salt poisoning or if he was not in on that. It’s very relieving to read of her finally being told off in court.
This. Exactly this. She has purposely waged a war against this child, a war that was false in origin to begin with. Majority of what Arthur lived through and suffered, were at ET instructions via a very false narrative. I am in agreement with TH legal team that she consistently used her pregnancy as a means to emotionally blackmail. I am also in 100% agreement with what the prosecution have put forward today and the description of her being pitless. I think they have shown the jury exactly what sort of person she is. She actually sickens me, I don’t think I’ve ever felt such strong negative emotions towards somebody I have never set eyes on. I hope TH is sat here watching and listening to all this and I hope it haunts him for the rest of his life…
I dont have pity for TH - not one iota!
The boy was HIS son and he his "carer".
Both adults are merciless, both are murderers in my opinion.
Why was TH so adamant to keep the boy?
Why didn't he agree to let him go to grandparents?
Because of "pride" I guess.
He let the boy to be murdered by a crazy woman b/c he would not admit to his parents HE couldn't cope as a parent.
What a coward!!!
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she's pleaded guilty to assault while on the stand, just keeps digging her own grave. I'm almost embarrased for her
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they're doing a great job and I agree with every word they're sayingThe Prosecution doesn't mince words
Bravo!!!
15:04JAMES CARTLEDGE
Tustin says Arthur was initially happy at her home
The jury is back in court following the break.
Mr Hankin: "Let's return to your cruelty towards Arthur, in particular the requirement that he stand for hour upon hour staring at a wall."
Tustin states the 'forced standing' began in early May. She says: "In April they came back. Things were OK for a couple of weeks."
She confirms there was an occasion in February that year when Arthur was made to sit on a chair at a table at Catherine Milhench's home.
Mr Hankin: "I suggest your discipline of Arthur had already begun before he had moved to your house at the start of lockdown and this was one of the reasons he didn't want to come to your house."
Tustin: "That's not the case."
Mr Hankin: "He already had a taste of life of you and his dad together."
Tustin: "He was happy at my home, at first he was."
Murder accused branded 'pitiless, cruel woman' who 'hated' boy - updates
Tustin says Arthur was initially happy at her home
The jury is back in court following the break.
Mr Hankin: "Let's return to your cruelty towards Arthur, in particular the requirement that he stand for hour upon hour staring at a wall."
Tustin states the 'forced standing' began in early May. She says: "In April they came back. Things were OK for a couple of weeks."
She confirms there was an occasion in February that year when Arthur was made to sit on a chair at a table at Catherine Milhench's home.
Mr Hankin: "I suggest your discipline of Arthur had already begun before he had moved to your house at the start of lockdown and this was one of the reasons he didn't want to come to your house."
Tustin: "That's not the case."
Mr Hankin: "He already had a taste of life of you and his dad together."
Tustin: "He was happy at my home, at first he was."
Murder accused branded 'pitiless, cruel woman' who 'hated' boy - updates
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