How can parents do this?

this pair not paid

I just happened to peruse the Mail online to get the news this morning and a picture popped up of this paid lounging on the sofa eating ice creams in the summer while Arthur starved elsewhere.

More tears this morning reading that he still lies in a mortuary.

Not only has that evil women stolen this little boys life, but her own children will now have to grow up with the fact that their mother committed this terrible crime.

I was thinking about that woman’s other children. They must be so disturbed by this. I wouldn’t be surprised if they are in care now.

Nananet01,
Oh I didn't read about the burial bit. Poor soul!
The powers that be should decree where he be buried, somewhere in the middle of all the arguments. Or the choice of the grandparents he was living with before the one he called 'daddy' took Arthur away from them!!!
That poor, poor little boy. He looked so happy in the pics!
He was even made to sleep on the floor, not even the sofa!!
I wonder what her children thought about the little boy 'mummy' was so nasty and cruel to?

She got 29 years, which they're calling life, for murder.
He got 27 years for manslaughter.
I hope they get sine awful treatment inside!!!

In the video that is circulating, taken the morning of the day he was attacked fatally, I read that Arthur is struggling to put his duvet away, despite being in pain that made him wince, from having been made to stand, as a discipline, for several hours, each day over the four previous days, God only knows what other beatings and neglect he suffered besides that left him so weak and broken

I cannot comprehend how, even in death, this beautiful, doomed child is still denied the love, care and respect he longed for, his little battered body still lying in the mortuary, 18 months on from his terrible death, because the two sides of his family cannot agree where he should be buried. This really is the final abuse and neglect, even now by those who claim to love him

I feel the same Flaxseed and my sister rang me in tears this morning.
Unfortunately we can't let Arthur know. He loved Birmingham City FC (my husband's team). They are having applause 6 minutes (for Arthur's age) into their match tomorrow as are Aston Villa. Arthur will never know but it's something I suppose.

Do we know what the defence could possibly have come up with? I’ve been unable to read details as too distressing.

It makes me sick that us taxpayers will be feeding and ‘housing’ her.
I hope she rots in hell.
In all of my years, nothing has affected me as badly as this story. I keep breaking down when I think of that harrowing evidence. I feel traumatised by the evidence, but that’s nothing compared to what those jurors had to witness and, obviously, what that poor child went through. My DP (bless him - he’s equally sickened) doesn’t know what to do with an unstable, emotional female, so just passes me a tissue and stays out out the way
I wish there was something we could do, some way to let Arthur know he has captured our hearts

I actually hope she is despised, and has a miserable time in jail. If the other prisoners hurt her, I really could not care less.
I hope she is never released. The Father will be out in 21 years and could still Father children.

I've posted before that my neighbour had the police visit her to warn her about "harrssing" her son and his partner when she tried to get someone to help her grandchildren.
She was told she would be arrested.

Kc55

I saw this right at the beginning of the court case and cried when I read that he's said his Gran loved him and he wanted to go there. Perhaps the police actually need an army of us Grans to carry out these so called 'welfare visits'. Not many of us would have missed those bruises nor have been fooled by a smooth talking Dad. I understand that the stepmother has already encountered problems in prison. Long may they continue. I feel for his family who tried to get some idiot to pay attention.

This is true, but some are estranged

I think SS give up quite easily if they are challenged or someone convinces them everything is fine. Grandparents should have more rights.

Yes, I know.
Remembering those who didn't have a fair trial because some of the evidence wasn't available to the defence years ago.

Calistemon

Germanshepherdsmum

They are obliged to take the case under the cab rank principle Calistemon.

Yes, I realise but is it possible to refuse and take the next cab?

I understand your feelings Callistemon. My experience of working in the Courts was that solicitors/barristers were able to represent both perpetrators and their victims in different cases, equally well. I’m sure everyone involved in this case will be haunted by the suffering of this defenceless little boy. Acting for either of his abusers will have been a dreadful experience.
I remain of the view, even they deserved a fair trial. Tough though I found it to write that

Unfortunately only in very limited circumstances.

Yes Iam64 you are right. The account I read was wrong. Her ex boyfriend said she only had babies because it gained her attention and Child Allowance.

Germanshepherdsmum

They are obliged to take the case under the cab rank principle Calistemon.

Yes, I realise but is it possible to refuse and take the next cab?

I'm not sure. It could bring about positive reactions.

Most right-thinking people or those who have never worked in the field or its aftermath have any idea what agonies are being perpetrated on little children. To so many these acts are unthinkable.

Being aware of the horrors may make society more alert to what may be happening in their own street.

What is particularly poignant, are some pictures released of Arthur with his natural mother, happier days, he looked loved and she looked a loving mum. I know she is in prison for killing a man she became involved with, we don't know the circumstances, so not making a judgement about that. As others have expressed there were members of Arthur's extended family on both sides I believe, who wanted to take over his care. It's truly heart breaking.

They are obliged to take the case under the cab rank principle Calistemon.

I agree Iam64
The video is all over the internet, it feels ghoulish and further abuse of this little boys tragic story

Tustin’s own children may have had basic needs met but weren’t ‘well cared for’. They grew up with an emotionally unstable, anusive mother. They witnessed domestic abuse, they lived daily with seeing A tortured.
I wonder how they presented at school, then remember, lockdown meant they weren’t there.
I’ve wept, as have so many, reading the evidence. I haven’t watched the video, though I read what that little boy was saying. I don’t know how others feel but I’m uncomfortable with it being made public.

I’m in agreement with urmstongran, in nor wishing attacks by other prisoners on these two wicked people. Let them suffer, lose their Liberty, be isolated and despised. Don’t let other prisoners extend their sentences as a result of attacking them

I’m not a fan of life sentences but for these two, why should they ever be freed

I do hope she doesn't manage to commit suicide (she has already tried).
Not just yet, anyway.

I know it's a job but how can defence counsel work for someone like that?

Urmstongran

“Tustin, who was brought to Coventry Crown Court, "refused to come up" to the dock for the duration of the sentencing, Mr Justice Mark Wall QC said at the start of the hearing“
She should have been dragged by her hair!