Southport Murders: Axel Rudakubana Sentencing for Attack on Young Girls
Axel Rudakubana is sentenced for the horrific murders of three young girls at a dance party in Southport. Learn about the verdict and impact of the attack.
Posted on Jan 23, 2025
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Southport killer Axel Rudakubana is set to learn his fate for murdering three girls during a horrific attack in Southport.
Rudakubana, 18, pleaded guilty to the murders of six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe, and nine-year-old Alice da Silva Aguiar. The attack occurred at a Taylor Swift-themed dance party at The Hart Space in Merseyside on July 29, 2022.
He also pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of eight other children, as well as Leanne Lucas and Jonathan Hayes, on what was intended to be the first day of a four-week trial on January 20, 2024.
On January 23, Rudakubana needed medical assistance but appeared in court an hour late. He was removed from the courtroom due to disruptions, insisting he was in pain and required a paramedic, which led to a family member calling him a “coward” as he left the dock.
Since Rudakubana was 17 at the time of the attack, he is not expected to receive a whole-life order, which is typically reserved for offenders aged 21 and over, though it can be applied in exceptions for those aged 18 to 20.
Rudakubana, originally from Cardiff and now residing in Banks, Lancashire, also pleaded guilty to possessing a knife bought on Amazon, producing the biological toxin ricin before July 29, and possessing terrorism-related information, specifically a PDF of an Al Qaeda training manual.
Sentencing is set to begin in Liverpool Crown Court at 11am.
KEY EVENT
Rudakubana jailed for a minimum of 52 years
Rudakubana has been sentenced to a minimum of 52 years for the three counts of murder, adjusted for 175 days already served. Each of the eight counts of attempted murder against unnamed children resulted in a minimum concurrent sentence of 18 years. For the two counts of attempted murder against Leanne Lucas and Jonathan Hayes, he received a minimum of 16 years, also concurrent. Additionally, he was sentenced to 18 months for the remaining charges, all running concurrently. His total time before parole eligibility amounts to 51 years and 190 days, with Mr Justice Goose indicating it is 'highly likely' he will never be released.
John Scheerhout
Judge convinced ricin would have been used 'in time'
Mr Justice Goose expressed his belief that Rudakubana would have used the ricin he had collected 'in time'. He emphasized that Rudakubana was just nine days short of turning 18 at the time of the attack, preventing imposition of a whole-life tariff. The judge noted release is contingent upon a safety assessment by the Parole Board, indicating it is 'unlikely he will ever be released'.
John Scheerhout
'He wanted to try to carry out mass murder of innocent, happy, young girls'
Mr Justice Goose characterized Rudakubana's actions as targeting children with extreme violence, stating he aimed to 'murder as many as he physically could'. The judge noted the attack lasted over 15 minutes, during which Rudakubana savagely killed three girls and attempted to kill three more victims, including two adults who intervened.
John Scheerhout
Barrister says killer spared his victims 'the ordeal of a trial'
The defendant's barrister highlighted that Rudakubana spared his victims the trauma of a trial, explaining the law's recognition of the developmental stage of young offenders and the necessity for a chance at release from custody.
Christopher Adams
Judge confirms a whole life order cannot be imposed
Mr Justice Goose reiterated that a whole-life order could not be placed on Rudakubana due to his age at the time of the attack. The defendant's lawyer mentioned that Rudakubana struggled with communication because of his autism diagnosis, noting a significant change in his behavior at age 13.
John Scheerhout
'She woke up still trying to grab onto her best friend'
Parents of one of the surviving girls shared their anguish over her injuries, stating they did not recognize her when they arrived at the dance class. They recounted how she woke up in the hospital, still attempting to escape, which haunts them deeply.
Christopher Adams
'Our daughter is everything that Axel Rudakubana is not'
Child C’s father expressed the profound effects of the events on their family, indicating that their daughter struggled with her emotions and trauma but desires to move forward despite her lasting scars.
John Scheerhout
Youngest victim Bebe King, six, had 'defensive injuries'
The court heard that youngest victim Bebe King was found collapsed and pronounced dead at the scene, having suffered numerous sharp force injuries, some of which were described as 'defensive injuries'.
