Arthur Labinjo-Hughes: Tributes pour in for Arthur across the country

He was the beautiful little boy who died at the hands of his cruel step-mother and father thinking nobody loved him.

But the nation has united to grieve for six year-old Arthur Labinjo-Hughes.

A playful picture of footie fan Arthur in his Birmingham City shirt has endeared him forever in hearts across the country.

Over the weekend the photo was beamed across football pitches across the country as fans and players applauded the youngster killed by Emma Tustin and Thomas Hughes.

In one of the worst ever child abuse cases his torturers were jailed on Friday for 29 years and 21 years, respectively.

But the Attorney General is due to re-consider the jail terms as there have been complaints that the sentences are not long enough.

Tustin and Hughes force-fed Arthur salt-laced meals, kept him isolated in their  home in Shirley, Solihll with no water or food and routinely beat him up.

Tustin was convicted of murder with Hughes found guilty of manslaughter.

Coventry Crown Court heard tragic recordings of Arthur crying “no one loves me” and “no one’s gonna feed me”.

The local community where he lived on Cranmore Road came together yesterday (Sunday, December 5) to honour their little neighbour.

Hundreds attended the tribute where balloons were released and applause broke out as they came to terms with his death.

National review into Arthur’s death

Arthur’s death at the hands of those who were supposed to be caring for him has led the government to announce a national review.

Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi announced the review over the weekend.

Members of Arthur’s family had contacted Solihull Social Services with concerns before he died.

Mr Zahawi has asked inspectors in social care, health, police and probation to investigate the safeguarding agencies in Solihull.

He is expected to make a statement to the House of Commons on Arthur’s case later today.

Arthur died of a head injury on 16 June 2020. Tustin had shaken him and banged his head on a hard surface after poisoning him with salt, Coventry Crown Court heard.

He was found to have 130 injuries after being routinely beaten, forced to stand for hours on his own, starved and dehydrated.

Arthur’s paternal grandmother had alerted social services by showing them a photograph of bruising on his body.

He was seen by social workers just two months before his death but they concluded there were "no safeguarding concerns".

What have children’s experts said about Arthur’s death?

The Children’s Commissioner, Dame Rachel de Souza, said reviews into Arthur’s death were "not a quick fix".

"Arthur raised concerns - he was not a baby, he was six years old - he raised concerns and the system did not hear him. We must listen to the voices of children." she said.

Arthur died during the first national coronavirus lockdown and Dame Rachel said: "We must not close schools again."

She said: "I think there’s no doubt that lockdown was such a shock to the whole nation that it weakened the system of support, but actually in Arthur’s case he did have a number of professionals around him, he did have home visits, we have to wait to hear exactly what’s happened there."

The NSPCC welcomed the review and said "no stone should be left unturned".

"This must be a watershed moment in which we ask ourselves difficult questions about what we can all do, nationally, locally and in our own communities, to keep children safe," the charity said.

Further tributes planned for Arthur

Birmingham City Football Club has planned further tributes to Arthur when the club hosts Cardiff City at St Andrew’s on Saturday December 11.

Plans are in place for a flag of remembrance to be installed in the lower Kop for the fixture against the Bluebirds, with a minute’s applause to be held in the game’s sixth minute and accompanied by a message displayed on the ground’s big screen.

Two memorial bricks will also be cemented into the stadium in a lasting tribute to Arthur.

A Blues spokesperson said: The Club remains deeply saddened by his passing and is in the process of exploring further ways to support children at risk.

Rest in Peace, Arthur, may you always have an angel by your side.

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