The prime minister is expected to announce an inquiry into the death of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes to see ‘what lessons we can learn’.
Arthur, aged six, was was subjected to a ‘campaign of cruelty’ which amounted to ‘torture’ from his dad and step-mum, a court heard.
‘Evil’ Emma Tustin was convicted of murder while her partner Thomas Hughes was found guilty of manslaughter.
As well as having serious head injuries, Arthur was found to be poisoned with a huge dose of salt when he died.
HIs grandmother had tried to raise the alarm with social services, while Arthur’s uncle tried to tell police there was a problem but was warned he himself could face prosecution under Covid lockdown rules if he went back to visit the home in Birmingham.
Justice Secretary Dominic Raab has said ministers are determined to see what lessons can be learned.
Asked if there would be an inquiry, Mr Raab said ‘yes’ and told Sky News: ‘The Prime Minister made clear that we want to see how social services liaise with the criminal justice agencies, and what lessons we can learn.
‘It is right that we look at the criminal justice end and in between that I think the job of social workers – particularly those looking at children at particular risk – we need to learn the lessons.’
He added: ‘I do think we have got to make sure a more precautionary approach which looks at the risk to those particularly vulnerable young children and see what more we can do to read those early signs earlier and better.’
The Department for Education is expected to formally announce the investigation later today.
During a trial, the court heard how Arthur had his head banged ‘repeatedly against a hard surface’ at the hands of Tustin in Solihull in June 2020.
She lied to police about what happened, saying he must have thrown himself down the stairs, despite evidence he was barely strong enough to stand.
Jurors heard how Hughes encouraged the killing, sending a text to Tustin 18 hours before the fatal assault saying ‘just end him’.
He later allegedly told his son: ‘Watch you little c***, I’ll bury you six feet under.’
It comes after it was announced that the sentences given to Emma Tustin for murder and Thomas Hughes for manslaughter would be reviewed to see if they were too lenient.
A spokesperson for the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) has confirmed they had been referred ‘for review to determine whether they were too low’.
The AGO has 28 days from the date of sentence to review a case, assess whether it falls under the Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme, and make a decision as to whether to refer a sentence to the Court of Appeal, who can decide to increase sentences.
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