By Review ordered for Arthur Labinjo-Hughes’ killers’ jail time
The Attorney General has called for a review into the sentences of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes’ killers, saying they are possibly “unduly lenient”.
Emma Tustin, 32, was found guilty of murdering her six-year-old stepson and will face at least 29 years in prison, while Arthur’s father Simon Thomas, 29, was jailed for 21 years for manslaughter.
Suella Braverman, the Attorney General, has referred the sentences to the Court of Appeal because she believes they are “too low”.
Arthur, six, died in June from an unsurvivable brain injury inflicted by Tustin in the hallway of their house in Solihull.
Court heard that Arthur had been poisoned with salt, denied food and drink, beaten regularly and made to stand for hours alone in the hallway.
Ms Braverman said: “Emma Tustin and Thomas Hughes grossly abused their position of trust and subjected an innocent child, who they should have been protecting to continued emotional and physical abuse.
“I understand how distressing the public have found this case, but it is my job to decide if a sentence appears to be unduly lenient based on the facts of the case.
“I have carefully considered the details of this case, and I have decided to refer the sentences to the Court of Appeal as I believe them to be too low.
“My thoughts are with all those who loved Arthur Labinjo-Hughes.”
A date for the hearing is yet to be set.
During the sentencing earlier in December, Mr Justice Mark Wall QC called the case as “without doubt one of the most distressing and disturbing cases I have had to deal with”.
Tustin was unanimously convicted after the eight-week long trial, while Arthur’s father Thomas Hughes was convicted of manslaughter for encouraging the killing.
Both were also convicted of child cruelty.
(Image: West Midlands Police)
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