The jail time handed down to Arthur Labinjo-Hughes’ killer dad and stepmum is being reviewed following complaints it was too lenient.
A spokesperson for the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) has confirmed that the sentences given to Emma Tustin for murder and Thomas Hughes for manslaughter have been referred ‘for review to determine whether they were too low’.
The AGO has 28 days from the date of sentence to review a case, assess whether it falls under the Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme, and make a decision as to whether to refer a sentence to the Court of Appeal, who can decide to increase sentences.
Last year two of the UK’s most prolific rapists – Joseph McCann and Reynhard Sinaga – had their sentences increased by 10 years under the ULS.
The review into Arthur’s case comes after Solihull MP Julian Knight said on Twitter he would be referring the sentences to the scheme.
Arthur, 6, died on June 16 last year after his stepmum Tustin smashed his head against a hard surface in the family’s home in Solihull, in the West Midlands, until he went unconscious.
Since the tragedy, horrific details have come out about Arthur’s life – including how he was often isolated in a hallway, left to starve, poisoned with salt and beaten so frequently his body had 130 bruises when he died.
Tustin was jailed for life, with a requirement to serve at least 29 years, after she was convicted of murder at Coventry Crown Court.
Arthur’s dad Thomas Hughes, who was physically abusive and threatened to throw his son out of the window, was found guilty of manslaughter and put behind bars for 21 years.
But some believe these sentences do not do enough to bring justice for little Arthur, including Solihull’s MP Julian Knight.
He said: ‘I’ve just laid flowers at the shrine for young Arthur, lots of touching tributes from local residents and people around Solihull.
‘There’s a palpable sense of real loss and tragedy over this and also frankly a sense of anger and questions as to how this was allowed to happen, how these monsters were allowed to inflict this horrible torture on this young defenceless boy.
‘My view is very simple on this, we need to get to the bottom of how this happened and we need to ensure that those who have failed are accountable.
‘But also I think anyone reflecting on those sentences yesterday thinks that they were too lenient and my intention is to try and refer this to the Unduly Lenient Sentencing scheme as soon as possible and I will be doing that on Monday morning.’
Many have asked why nothing was done to protect Arthur, despite his paternal grandma offering to show police photos of his bruises – which officers apparently ‘didn’t want to see’.
Social services did eventually pay a visit to Arthur, but they said they had ‘no concerns’ about his living environment. Arthur was murdered around two months later.
During the trial, the court heard how Arthur was so weak from starvation and dehydration, he could not even lift his own duvet.
Heartbreaking audio was also released showing the little boy sobbing: ‘No one loves me’.
Most recently, CCTV has emerged showing Tustin and Hughes enjoying McDonald’s and ice cream while Arthur is left alone to starve in a hallway.
But Arthur’s biological mum Olivia Labinjo-Halcrow, who is currently serving time for murdering her partner in 2019, wants people to remember her son for his smile and happiness.
She released a statement through her own mum on Friday, reminiscing about his love for football, being outside and superheroes.
She said: ‘Arthur was the light of my life, he was not only just my only child he was my best friend.
‘Never could I have imagined he could have been taken from this world so early in his life.’
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