Warnings about Arthur Labinjo-Hughes ignored, says grandfather
Peter Halcrow, Arthur’s maternal grandfather, said warnings had been issued by the little boy’s other grandparents.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Warnings about Arthur Labinjo-Hughes were ignored, his grandfather has said.
Arthur’s stepmother Emma Tustin, 32, was jailed for life at Coventry Crown Court on Friday, with a minimum term of 29 years, after being found guilty of the six-year-old’s murder.
His father, Thomas Hughes, 29, was sentenced to 21 years for manslaughter.
They (his grandparents) issued warnings that were ignored
Peter Halcrow, Arthur’s maternal grandfather, said warnings were issued by the little boy’s other grandparents.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “They’re decent people and they were very concerned. And they issued warnings that were ignored, shall we say.”
As for the couple responsible for his death, Mr Halcrow said they had committed a “heinous crime” by killing a “defenceless, innocent boy”.
Mr Halcrow told the broadcaster: “I wouldn’t give them the time of day and I wouldn’t want them to see the light of day ever again.”
Arthur was left with an unsurvivable brain injury while in the sole care of “evil” Tustin.
She was convicted of murder by assaulting defenceless Arthur in the hallway of her Cranmore Road home in Solihull on June 16 2020.
Arthur, whose body was covered in 130 bruises, died in hospital the next day.