A stepmother who was today found guilty of killing a six-year-old boy after poisoning him with salt, beating and starving him, has complained to prison bosses after allegedly being attacked by inmates who have 'thrown salt' at her.
Emma Tustin, 32, killed Arthur Labinjo-Hughes by repeatedly slamming his head on a hard surface after she and 29-year-old Thomas Hughes starved his son and poisoned him with salt. After killing Arthur, Tustin immediately fetched her mobile phone to take a photograph of him as he lay dying in the hallway.
Tustin was today convicted of murdering Arthur on June 17, 2020, during the Covid lockdown. Hughes was also found guilty of manslaughter - but cleared of murder - for encouraging the killing, including by sending a text message to Tustin 18 hours before the fatal assault telling her 'just end him'.
Tustin and ex-boyfriend Hughes, 29, inflicted a 'cruel and systematic' campaign of cruelty' against Arthur, which included forcing him to stand for up to 14-hours a day alone, depriving him of food and water and poisoning him with salt.
And today, it has emerged that Tustin had already been attacked by inmates who 'threw salt' at her while she was on remand at HMP Peterborough, a criminal justice system source said.
Meanwhile, it was revealed that Tustin's trial was halted for several days after she took an overdose and was rushed to hospital.
Emma Tustin has already been attacked by inmates 'throwing salt' at her after she was today convicted of murdering Arthur Labinjo-Hughes on June 17, 2020
Speaking about the alleged attacks on Tustin, a HMP Peterborough spokesman said: 'We do not comment on individual prisoners.'
At a pre-trial hearing in April 2021, Tustin's barrister said her client had been receiving 'significant and substantial threats', although it is unclear if she was at the same prison at the time.
Speaking at a hearing on April 15, Mary Prior QC said: 'She has had a significant deterioration in her mental health.
'There are significant difficulties for her in that she is currently housed in an environment where she is not receiving medication. And she is receiving substantial and real threats - and violence.'
Ms Prior said Tustin's legal team had 'done all we can' to urge the prison authorities to 'make it plain' to safeguard their client's health and wellbeing, including writing to the governor.
She added: 'There are weekly conferences and they consist almost entirely of an overwhelmed young lady who is receiving significant and substantial threats and minimal medication.'
Tustin, 32, killed Arthur Labinjo-Hughes by repeatedly slamming his head on a hard surface after she and Thomas Hughes starved his son (both pictured) and poisoned him with salt
Hughes was found guilty of manslaughter - but cleared of murder - for encouraging the killing, including by sending a message to Tustin 18 hours before the assault telling her 'just end him'
Ms Prior told the presiding judge at the time, Recorder of Birmingham Judge Melbourne Inman QC, she had felt it 'necessary to say it in open court' because 'nothing is changing'.
Speaking at the time, Judge Inman said: 'The prison estate, I know, are very good at maintaining medication and treatment for those in their care.
'All I would say is, if there are concerns and problems, the court should be kept informed and, if necessary, we can make inquiries to assist.
'That is not meant as a criticism of anybody but, obviously, if matters of concern are raised with the court, we will do everything we can to assist - to make sure they are resolved.'
Elsewhere, it was revealed on Thursday that Tustin's trial was halted for several days after she took an overdose and was rushed to hospital.
