Sushma Luxton pushed one of the girl’s heads into a bathroom tap, and Paul Luxton admitted choking one of the children by using his forearms to pin the boy against a wall. A former employee of Dingwall, who worked at the trust at the same time as the Luxtons, described it as a “toxic working environment”. Deborah said concerns were raised about the Luxtons earlier but nothing was done. “Management knew a child had been hit and there were various reports about [the Luxtons] being inappropriate caregivers. The children weren’t being treated well.” Asked if the complaint was followed up by management, Deborah said she felt it was “swept under the carpet” and the Luxtons were allowed to remain.
David White/Stuff
Sushma and Paul Luxton admitted charges relating to the assault of four children in the custody of Oranga Tamariki.
Sushma Luxton’s own lawyer described his client and her husband caring for vulnerable children as a “disaster waiting to happen”. Sushma and Paul Luxton were sentenced to home detention on Tuesday for beating four vulnerable children in the custody of Oranga Tamariki over nearly three years. The pair had earlier admitted four charges of assaulting children and one of common assault at the Manukau District Court. The charges are representative, which means the assaults were not a one-off.
“Living with yous made me feel thoughts of suicide,” she said. The girl recalled feeling pressure to keep the abuse secret, putting on a “fake smile” to hide her misery.
Chris McKeen/Stuff
Sushma and Paul Luxton appeared at the Manukau District Court on Wednesday. “We knew in our head not to say anything in case we were heard and got a hiding . I was scared and couldn’t find my voice.” She said the Luxtons’ treatment of her made her feel worthless, and she began self-harming. “I eventually lost my emotions and became a very dull person.” The girl said school was her safe place, while coming home to the Luxtons every night was a nightmare.