A six-year-old boy who was found dead in his father’s home was only staying with his dad because his mum had been jailed for murder.
Arthur Labinjo-Hughes died in hospital several hours after he was found unresponsive at a house on Cranmore Road in Solihull, near Birmingham, on Tuesday afternoon, West Midlands Police (WMP) said.
A post-mortem carried out on Friday gave his cause of death as a head injury, the force added.
The boy’s 27-year-old father Thomas Hughes and his partner, Emma Tustin, 31 – both of Solihull, have been charged with causing or allowing the death of a child, WMP said. The pair are due to appear at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
Thomas Hughes (left), 27, and his partner, Emma Tustin, 31 have been charged with causing or allowing the death of a child after Arthur Hughes (right) died at a Birmingham home. It has now been revealed that Arthur’s birth mother was jailed for 18 years for stabbing her boyfriend to death last year
Now it has been revealed that the child’s birth mother, Olivia Labinjo-Hughes, was sent to jail for 18 years after the 27-year-old stabbed her boyfriend to death last year whilst under the influence of alcohol.
Arthur’s loved ones believed that the six-year-old was safe in his father’s custody before his tragic death.
A source told the Sun: ‘We just can’t believe what that poor boy must have been through all these years.’
Detective Inspector Laura Harrison said: ‘Arthur’s death is deeply distressing and we have specialist officers with his family as they grieve his loss.
‘Our investigation continues even though we have charged two people in connection with Arthur’s death.
Arthur Labinjo-Hughes died in hospital several hours after he was found unresponsive at a house on Cranmore Road in Shirley, near Birmingham, on Tuesday afternoon, West Midlands Police (WMP) said
Hughes and Tustin (pictured) are due to appear at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on Monday
‘If anyone has any information I would urge them to contact us.’
Last night a crime scene remained in place outside the semi-detached home and floral tributes and a blue toy car were laid in the front garden in memory of the boy.
Tustin, who along with Hughes has been named locally, is believed to also go by the name of Emma Dutton.
One neighbour Warren Powell, 47, a builder, said: ‘It is just horrible. He was a nice kid. I used to call him ‘cheeky boy’ because I didn’t know his name.
‘He used to walk by with his dad while I was cleaning the car. He was a car nut like me and used to ask about the car.’
Another resident nearby said: ‘He was a nice little boy. He used to come to speak to my other half when he was playing outside.’
The six-year-old boy, who died in the early hours of Wednesday morning, was found with serious head injuries at his home in Solihull, west Midlands on Tuesday
Floral tributes and a blue toy car were laid in the front garden in memory of the boy
Arthur Hughes is pictured as a younger child with his father
Following the incident, neighbours told of their shock at news of the boy’s death
Following the incident, neighbours told of their shock at news of the boy’s death.
One resident said: ‘The police have been here for a few days and rumours were going around that the little kid had died.
‘We were all so worried about him. It’s so sad. He was a beautiful boy – always laughing and smiling.
‘It’s so, so sad. There’s always something going on around here.’
A cordon remains in place at the property as police continue with their investigations into the boy’s death
On Friday one neighbour spoke of their sadness at the child’s death and described him as ‘a beautiful boy – always laughing and smiling’
Another neighbour on the quiet residential street said: ‘The boy had only been living here for about seven months. Everyone is horrified by it, the road is usually pretty peaceful.
‘I can’t remember the lad’s name – I just used to call him ”cheeky” as he was always smiling.
‘He used to stop to talk to me and my dogs when he walked past.’