Solihull Dads jail term increased for killing Arthur Labinjo-Hughes
Thomas Hughes sentence for manslaughter was increased by the Court of Appeal
The killer dad of six-year-old Arthur Labinjo-Hughes has had his prison sentence increased by judges at the Court of Appeal.
Thomas Hughes was jailed for 21 years for the manslaughter of the youngster - but this was today found to be unduly lenient.
Court of Appeal judges increased the jail term to 24 years.
Arthur's step-mum, Emma Tustin had her appeal against her conviction refused, but her sentence remained as life in prison for murder, with a minimum term of 29 years.
The Court of Appeal was told the child suffered a catastrophic brain injury while in the care of Tustin, who was jailed for life with a minimum term of 29 years for his murder.
Tustin challenged the length of her sentence for two admitted counts of child cruelty while Arthur's father, Hughes, who was sentenced to 21 years for manslaughter, appealed against his sentence.
Both sentences for killing Arthur were challenged as being unduly lenient.
The judges refused to change Tustin's sentence, finding she should not be given a whole life order, but Hughes' sentence was found to be unduly lenient and was increased to 24 years.
Lord Burnett said in Friday's judgment:
"We consider that there is substance in the Attorney General's argument relating to manslaughter that in encouraging Tustin to harm Arthur in the way he did there was a substantial risk that she would do something that would kill him."
He continued: "The manslaughter bristled with aggravating features including as grave a breach of trust as can be imagined in respect of a small boy who was especially vulnerable, not least as a result of Hughes' own conduct. He lied to Arthur's school to keep him at home to protect both himself and Tustin."
The judge added: "Without the cruelty offences the manslaughter deserved a sentence of 18 years or more. The judge's view was that the offence fell just short of murder and, as we have said, the risk of death, given the preceding conduct, was real.
"In our view the appropriate sentence is one of 24 years' imprisonment to take account of all the offending."