A man accused of being “unthinking and pitiless” and of helping to murder his six-year-old son has told a jury he “probably” valued his new partner’s love and affection over the welfare of his child.

Thomas Hughes is alleged to have aided and abetted his girlfriend, Emma Tustin, in killing Arthur Labinjo-Hughes.

He told Coventry Crown Court on Monday that she had “assured” him she would show him “the love, the attention” he wanted.

Prosecutors accused the 29-year-old of being an “utterly ruthless, unthinking and pitiless” parent, but he denied that, along with a further claim that he “relished in abusing” his child.

Hughes later claimed, from the witness box, that Tustin had “mentally abused” him into complying with a punishing disciplinary regime, including forcing Arthur to stand for up to 14 hours a day, have food and drink withheld, and suffer “multiple acts of violence”.

Arthur later died of an inflicted brain injury.

Hughes’ claim about Tustin’s alleged psychological abuse prompted prosecuting barrister Jonas Hankin QC to ask him: “Who is the victim here, Mr Hughes, Arthur or you?”

West Midlands: Man charged with attempted burglary and murder of 78-year-old found dead in home

Arthur Labinjo-Hughes: Father cut up six-year-old son’s football shirts as punishment before partner killed the boy, court told

Kerry Woolley death: ‘Bully’ fatally stabbed partner before mother helped dump evidence, murder trial told

“Arthur,” replied Hughes.

Jurors were told Arthur was left a frail and weakened shadow of his normal “happy, chubby, healthy, active” self in the days before his fatal collapse.

Tustin, 32, is accused of fatally shaking and hitting Arthur, leaving him with an “unsurvivable” brain injury.

The boy and his father had been staying at her home during the first COVID lockdown.

Tustin and Hughes deny murdering Arthur, who, jurors previously heard, looked “broken” just a few weeks after he moved into Tustin’s home in Cranmore Road, Solihull, West Midlands.

They are both also accused of poisoning Arthur by forcing him to eat salt-laced meals, isolating him within the home, and of inflicting months of abuse likened to “torture” by prosecutors.

Tustin has previously claimed that Arthur’s fatal head injury was self-inflicted, possibly by throwing himself down the staircase in her hallway, where he was forced to spend “12 to 14 hours” a day.

Under cross-examination, Hughes was asked about his claims that Tustin had “manipulated” him into going along with the punishment regime.

Mr Hankin asked him: “Why did you not intervene to protect him?”

Hughes replied: “When I went to – I was led to believe it wasn’t as bad as what I was thinking it was” and then claimed he faced “difficulties” in getting his own way with Tustin.

The Crown’s QC asked him: “Can you not hear what you’re saying? As his father… you’re talking about your child, your six-year-old, vulnerable child, who is being subjected to forced stress positions, day after day.

“What difficulties in the world could be more important than saving your child from that fate?”

Hughes replied: “Nothing, looking back on it, but at the time I was being mentally abused by Emma Tustin.”

He was later asked: “What could Emma Tustin do to you that’s worse than what you were doing to him?”

Hughes replied: “Nothing – I just felt it would cause unnecessary arguments (with Tustin).”

Mr Hankin asked: “What did Emma Tustin offer you that you valued more than your own son, Mr Hughes?”

He replied: “She always assured me… she would show me the love, the attention.”

The prosecutor asked: “So, it was her love and attention you valued more than your own son’s welfare?”

Hughes replied: “Towards the end, probably.”

Later, Hughes said his son “meant the absolute world” to him.

Mr Hankin asked: “Can you tell us how this little boy, who meant the absolute world to you, yet you watched him decline from a happy, chubby, healthy, active boy, to a desperately sad, thin, weak, miserable child?”

Hughes replied: “I cannot explain it to you.”

Though not present for the alleged fatal assault, Hughes, of Stroud Road, Solihull, is accused of aiding the killing, and also faces three counts of child cruelty.

Tustin has admitted one count of child cruelty, but denies two other similar charges.

The trial continues.

Related posts:

Boy, five, found dead in river in South Wales Tests at England’s major railway stations and on trains reveal no traces of COVID-19 Former MI6 boss warns UK’s terror threat level ‘greater today’ following Afghanistan exit Third COVID jab to be offered to people with severely weakened immune systems Storm Arwen: Thousands left ‘exhausted’ as they endure fifth day without power England Women humiliate Latvia 20-0 on record-breaking night for Lionesses and Ellen White ‘Very rare’ sea turtle washes up on Welsh beach after Storm Arwen – 5,000 miles away from home Gay rights activist’s appeal in long-running cake dispute ruled ‘inadmissible’ MP Margaret Ferrier to stand trial accused of visiting salon, leisure centre and church while having COVID symptoms COVID epicentre moves from London to North West and more older people being hospitalised MP calls for the return of a ‘hybrid parliament’ and claims 50 members could be at home with COVID Wales COVID restrictions to remain due to soaring Omicron cases