Arthur’s mum Olivia Labinjo-Halcrow, who is in jail for killing her boyfriend, described her six-year-old son as her ‘best friend’ and ‘the light of my life’
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The mum of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes described her son as “the light of my life” in a moving statement.
Olivia Labinjo-Halcrow, who is serving an 11-year prison term for killing her boyfriend in 2019, said her son was “my best friend”.
The statement was made public as step-mum Emma Tustin, 32, from Shirley, Solihull, was found guilty of Arthur’s murder and child cruelty offences by a jury after a harrowing trial at Coventry Crown Court.
His dad Thomas Hughes, 29, was found guilty of manslaughter.
In a statement from her prison cell, Olivia Labinjo-Halcrow described her son as a “beautiful little boy that I knew and loved deeply”.
She wrote: “The details of Arthur’s case are harrowing and incomparable.
“But I want people to know who Arthur was, from his huge smile and personality to his gentle and caring nature.
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“All mothers are biased and believe that their children are the best, and I’m no different.
“From the moment Arthur was born he filled my life with joy. He was always smiling and had the most inquisitive little mind.
“When I think about Arthur’s life and what he loved there are three things that I always think about.
“Firstly, Arthur loved to read or be read to, and any or all of the Julia Donaldson books were his favourite.
“He particularly liked The Gruffalo and the Snail And The Whale.
“When he started school, his love of reading became a love of learning, how to write new words.
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“Every week he would be excited about the ten new words he was going to be given to learn.
“Secondly Arthur loved his food.
“He was 10lbs 6.5 ounces when he was born, and his love of milk soon turned to his love of food.
“He would try anything and, like all children, he always wanted whatever I was having.
“I remember when he started school, every day on the way home he would tell me what he had to eat at lunchtime and then he would ask me what we were going to have for dinner.
“But what Arthur loved more than anything was being outside.
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“He loved to play football. He was kicking a football around as soon as he could walk.
“By the time he was four he could name most, if not all, of the England team, and he always had the latest Birmingham City kits.
“I could talk for hours about what Arthur loved and who Arthur was.
“Talking about Arthur’s loves would not be complete without mentioning superheroes.
“Marvel or DC, Arthur loved them all, from Batman to Black Panther, Aquaman to The Flash.
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“He had every costume and action figure and would spend hours dressing up and pretending he had their superpowers.
“Arthur was the light of my life. He wasn’t just my only child, he was my best friend.
“Never did I imagine he would be taken from this world so early in his life.
“If Arthur could ask for one final thing it would be that he is remembered for his super power. That will always be what I remember him for.
“Arthur’s super power was his smile.”
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