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

[Carroll520]

Interesting parallel here, regarding Hughes' ex-partner Olivia Labinjo-Halcrow.

These are the judge's words to her at sentencing for the manslaughter of her boyfriend Gary Cunningham -



Justice Tipples said: "There were weeks when you were together and weeks when you were apart. The relationship was toxic and included violence.

"There were fights. Gary was violent to you and you were violent to Gary. It was not all one-way. You were as bad as each other.

"You told lie after lie about the extent of the violence inflicted on you by Gary. You completely exaggerated the physical violence in your relationship."

She stated Labinjo-Halcrow made a number of serious false accusations about the victim to make out Gary was 'responsible for his own death and deflect blame from yourself'. [...]

"You are an arch manipulator, to get what you wanted with who you wanted," said the judge.

Justice Tipples said: "The only person who knows what happened is you. However drunk and drugged you were that morning I'm quite sure you know what actually happened. You lied to the police when they arrived you told them nothing had happened.

"After you had been arrested you told them he had killed himself. You were taken out of the flat and walked past his dead body covered with a sheet. You didn't show a flicker of emotion. You stepped over his dead body."

'Arch manipulator' jailed for stabbing her boyfriend to death

This makes me so sad to think of the quality of life little Arthur would have had while living with his Mum. The only time he was probably properly cared for was in his Nans house, so sad!

 

[Dotta]

This makes me so sad to think of the quality of life little Arthur would have had while living with his Mum. The only time he was probably properly cared for was in his Nans house, so sad!

I guess his mother might have drunk alcohol and taken drugs during pregnancy causing terrible harm to the unborn baby and possible later learning difficulties.

 

[Tinksx]

So - will he be cross examined by
1. Prosecution,
2 . ET defence,
3. His defence,
right?

So far ET was cross examined by TH defence and the Prosecutor I think.
Or did I miss her Defence?

He can completely avoid taking the stand. It’s down to the prosecution to prove his guilt, he doesn’t need to prove his innocence if that makes sense?
If he was to take the stand it would go:
1) His defence
2) ET defence
3) Prosecution


You might have missed ET defence but it was first. I believe Mary Prior QC is representing her.

 

[Carroll520]

Interesting parallel here, regarding Hughes' ex-partner Olivia Labinjo-Halcrow.

These are the judge's words to her at sentencing for the manslaughter of her boyfriend Gary Cunningham -



Justice Tipples said: "There were weeks when you were together and weeks when you were apart. The relationship was toxic and included violence.

"There were fights. Gary was violent to you and you were violent to Gary. It was not all one-way. You were as bad as each other.

"You told lie after lie about the extent of the violence inflicted on you by Gary. You completely exaggerated the physical violence in your relationship."

She stated Labinjo-Halcrow made a number of serious false accusations about the victim to make out Gary was 'responsible for his own death and deflect blame from yourself'. [...]

"You are an arch manipulator, to get what you wanted with who you wanted," said the judge.

Justice Tipples said: "The only person who knows what happened is you. However drunk and drugged you were that morning I'm quite sure you know what actually happened. You lied to the police when they arrived you told them nothing had happened.

"After you had been arrested you told them he had killed himself. You were taken out of the flat and walked past his dead body covered with a sheet. You didn't show a flicker of emotion. You stepped over his dead body."

'Arch manipulator' jailed for stabbing her boyfriend to death

This makes me so sad to think of the quality of life little Arthur would have had while living with his Mum. The only time he was probably properly cared for was in his Nans house, so sad!

I guess his mother might have drunk alcohol and taken drugs during pregnancy causing terrible harm to the unborn baby and possible later learning difficulties.

I think his playschool and school had said he was a lovely fella with no issues, but more information might come out as the trial continues. Apparently the Mum went to college and was in the army and came back a different person, kind of sounded like drink and drugs became a problem after that. But I am not sure if that was before or after she had Arthur

 

[Dotta]

This makes me so sad to think of the quality of life little Arthur would have had while living with his Mum. The only time he was probably properly cared for was in his Nans house, so sad!


I think his playschool and school had said he was a lovely fella with no issues, but more information might come out as the trial continues. Apparently the Mum went to college and was in the army and came back a different person, kind of sounded like drink and drugs became a problem after that. But I am not sure if that was before or after she had Arthur

Thanks!
So his Mum was a College and Army girl! What a pity she sank so low Tragedy!

 

[Tinksx]

This makes me so sad to think of the quality of life little Arthur would have had while living with his Mum. The only time he was probably properly cared for was in his Nans house, so sad!


I think his playschool and school had said he was a lovely fella with no issues, but more information might come out as the trial continues. Apparently the Mum went to college and was in the army and came back a different person, kind of sounded like drink and drugs became a problem after that. But I am not sure if that was before or after she had Arthur

I think, according to TH parents, they didn’t have issues with bios mums parenting if I remember correctly? I’m sure that was mentioned early on in the trail but @Tortoise would be best placed to clarify that.

I think this poor boy lost his mother, was unaware of the reasons why, had his entire world turned upside down, moved from one home to another home and then another, then found out (rather harshly) his mother was in prison, got stuck living in a house with a woman that despised him and was jealous that her lovers attention was taken away from her. Then was subsequently tortured in every sense of the word. I can very easily see how this poor boy ended up self harming and “acting” out. He was 6! Jesus Christ, I don’t think even as an adult you would come out of that situation unscathed and without needing support. I don’t think he was a problem child, I think he was a child desperately reaching out for some stability and love and was penalised massively for it

 

[Carroll520]

I think, according to TH parents, they didn’t have issues with bios mums parenting if I remember correctly? I’m sure that was mentioned early on in the trail but @Tortoise would be best placed to clarify that.

I think this poor boy lost his mother, was unaware of the reasons why, had his entire world turned upside down, moved from one home to another home and then another, then found out (rather harshly) his mother was in prison, got stuck living in a house with a woman that despised him and was jealous that her lovers attention was taken away from her. Then was subsequently tortured in every sense of the word. I can very easily see how this poor boy ended up self harming and “acting” out. He was 6! Jesus Christ, I don’t think even as an adult you would come out of that situation unscathed and without needing support. I don’t think he was a problem child, I think he was a child desperately reaching out for some stability and love and was penalised massively for it

The only bad thing I heard about the Mums parenting was from ET in court, saying Arthur had told her that she spat wine in his face and fed him cereal for every meal. But hard to know if that is true, as I wouldnt believe a word out of her mouth.
I totally agree, he didnt seem like a problen child at all, he was probably so scared every day, no wonder he was self harming. God sometimes the reality of what he went through on a daily basis is too much to take. I hope he knows how many people are thinking of him now and would have helped him if they knew

 

[Dotta]

The only bad thing I heard about the Mums parenting was from ET in court, saying Arthur had told her that she spat wine in his face and fed him cereal for every meal. But hard to know if that is true, as I wouldnt believe a word out of her mouth.
I totally agree, he didnt seem like a problen child at all, he was probably so scared every day, no wonder he was self harming. God sometimes the reality of what he went through on a daily basis is too much to take. I hope he knows how many people are thinking of him now and would have helped him if they knew

And Pandemic and lockdowns didnt help.
He was virtually locked in the house.
If he had gone to school, none of this would have happened in my opinion.

 

[Carroll520]

And Pandemic and lockdowns didnt help.
He was virtually locked in the house.
If he had gone to school, none of this would have happened in my opinion.

Yep, i think so too, such a tragedy really

 

[Tortoise]

What I find interesting is that -

- Hughes' mother tried to rescue Arthur and pleaded with Hughes to let him come and live with her. They reported her and his uncles to police for harrassment.

- Arthur wanted to live with his nanna and his uncles.

- Hughes had allegedly told Tustin he wanted to put Arthur up for adoption. He would go out all the time, leaving Arthur with Tustin.

- Tustin didn't want Arthur in her home. She also says her children wanted Arthur to leave, no doubt because they were told he was the cause of all the upset.

- They kept him at home all day, when schools reopened - obviously to stop him reporting the abuse, but looking longer term they must have seen that keeping him out of school couldn't last, and if they stopped physically assaulting him Tustin could have the time she wanted without him.

Yet they kept him, and lied to social workers that he was happy and the children were having a great time.


It seems to me that they had a very simple solution to this which they didn't even need to look for, but they clung onto Arthur. Why?


---

I think she was the one using the dating websites : -

Tustin tells the court Hughes was using dating websites.

She says: "He used my tablet and the emails were coming through to my tablet. I was getting the messages he was sending to other people and then instead of removing the dating sites he removed his email address from my tablet."

---

Judge Wall raises a question from a juror. He asks why Tustin took Hughes back in April if she was unhappy in the relationship due to Arthur's behaviour.

Tustin: "Because I'm stupid and I have no self worth. I knew it was the right thing to be alone.

"I have a personality disorder which also affects that. I would rather be in an unhealthy relationship than be by myself. I did allow him back. I thought it would get better. It got worse. I continued with that relationship."

I don't believe she has no self worth. She thinks she is worth not going to prison for murder. Worth trying to salvage her pitiful reputation.

I would also like to know what personality disorder she has been diagnosed with. I very much doubt it's narcissistic or antisocial because she probably wouldn't be bragging about it to the jury.

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?"

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."

Tusitn denies that is the case.

 

[Carroll520]

What I find interesting is that -

- Hughes' mother tried to rescue Arthur and pleaded with Hughes to let him come and live with her. They reported her and his uncles to police for harrassment.

- Arthur wanted to live with his nanna and his uncles.

- Hughes had allegedly told Tustin he wanted to put Arthur up for adoption. He would go out all the time, leaving Arthur with Tustin.

- Tustin didn't want Arthur in her home. She also says her children wanted Arthur to leave, no doubt because they were told he was the cause of all the upset.

- They kept him at home all day, when schools reopened - obviously to stop him reporting the abuse, but looking longer term they must have seen that keeping him out of school couldn't last, and if they stopped physically assaulting him Tustin could have the time she wanted without him.

Yet they kept him, and lied to social workers that he was happy and the children were having a great time.


It seems to me that they had a very simple solution to this which they didn't even need to look for, but they clung onto Arthur. Why?


---

I think she was the one using the dating websites : -



---





I don't believe she has no self worth. She thinks she is worth not going to prison for murder. Worth trying to salvage her pitiful reputation.

I would also like to know what personality disorder she has been diagnosed with. I very much doubt it's narcissistic or antisocial because she probably wouldn't be bragging about it to the jury.

It was like they were getting a kick out of abusing Arthur. Like why didnt she just let him escape, those times he tried to, if she wanted him out of the house so badly, let him go then! The texts back and forth just speaking so horribly about him, it was like a game to them, a sick twisted game.
Hopefully Tom will be on the stand this week and we might get more of an idea of what happened. I wonder was there drugs involved, to make them so depraved.

 

[Dotta]

What I find interesting is that -

- Hughes' mother tried to rescue Arthur and pleaded with Hughes to let him come and live with her. They reported her and his uncles to police for harrassment.

- Arthur wanted to live with his nanna and his uncles.

- Hughes had allegedly told Tustin he wanted to put Arthur up for adoption. He would go out all the time, leaving Arthur with Tustin.

- Tustin didn't want Arthur in her home. She also says her children wanted Arthur to leave, no doubt because they were told he was the cause of all the upset.

- They kept him at home all day, when schools reopened - obviously to stop him reporting the abuse, but looking longer term they must have seen that keeping him out of school couldn't last, and if they stopped physically assaulting him Tustin could have the time she wanted without him.

Yet they kept him, and lied to social workers that he was happy and the children were having a great time.


It seems to me that they had a very simple solution to this which they didn't even need to look for, but they clung onto Arthur. Why?


---

I think she was the one using the dating websites : -



---





I don't believe she has no self worth. She thinks she is worth not going to prison for murder. Worth trying to salvage her pitiful reputation.

I would also like to know what personality disorder she has been diagnosed with. I very much doubt it's narcissistic or antisocial because she probably wouldn't be bragging about it to the jury.

I have a feeling there was tension between TH and his parents.

Maybe they thought he wasnt fit to bring up a child and he decided to prove them wrong?

He hid the presents from his parents for Arthur.
He wanted to move Arthur from hall to back door in case his mother visited them.

 

[Tortoise]

It seems to me that they had a very simple solution to this which they didn't even need to look for, but they clung onto Arthur. Why?

I'm ashamed I even wrote this line, reading it back. Of course he was never the problem, he wasn't causing them to behave that way, so why would they be looking for a solution?

 

[Mellowmelly]

I'm ashamed I even wrote this line, reading it back. Of course he was never the problem, he wasn't causing them to behave that way, so why would they be looking for a solution?

But unfortunately you are not wrong, Arthur was a problem to them. It's inconceivable to write it because it goes against what decent, normal people stand for.

 

[Mellowmelly]

I have a feeling there was tension between TH and his parents.

Maybe they thought he wasnt fit to bring up a child and he decided to prove them wrong?

He hid the presents from his parents for Arthur.
He wanted to move Arthur from hall to back door in case his mother visited them.

So so cruel, they didn't want him to have one shred of happiness, hiding his presents.

 

[Mellowmelly]

Yep, i think so too, such a tragedy really

I wonder if the school phoned TH to do safe and well checks on Arthur during the lock down because my children's schools did, even asking to speak to my children to make sure they were OK. They did this about once a week.

 

[Dotta]

So so cruel, they didn't want him to have one shred of happiness, hiding his presents.

I think they wanted to break the bond between Arthur and grandparents.
"Nobody loves me" he said.
Did they convince the boy that Granny forgot about him?

 

[Mellowmelly]

I think they wanted to break the bond between Arthur and grandparents.
"Nobody loves me" he said.
Did they convince the boy that Granny forgot about him?

Oh I hope they didn't do that aswell, what hid poor nan must be going through now and since losing Arthur doesn't bear thinking about.

 

[Dotta]

Oh I hope they didn't do that aswell, what hid poor nan must be going through now and since losing Arthur doesn't bear thinking about.

Im afraid that was their plan.
Why else to hide Granny's presents?
He knew nothing about lockdown, and didnt understand why grandparents didnt visit him.

 

[Carroll520]

So so cruel, they didn't want him to have one shred of happiness, hiding his presents.

So cruel, like why do that! And TH said he couldnt remember the last time Arthur was allowed do something normal like watch tv, his poor brain must have just been on high alert 24/7 with no other stimulation.