Axel Rudakubana, the man responsible for the Southport attack, has been sentenced to a minimum of 52 years in prison for the murders of three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class.
Elsie Dot Stancombe, aged seven, Bebe King, aged six, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, aged nine, tragically lost their lives in the attack, while eight other children and two adults – dance instructor Leanne Lucas and businessman Jonathan Hayes – were severely injured.
The 18-year-old killer refused to enter the courtroom for his sentencing at Liverpool Crown Court, having previously been removed from the dock for disruptive behavior, which included demanding a paramedic and shouting "I feel ill."
On Monday, Rudakubana unexpectedly pleaded guilty to all 16 charges brought against him
Axel Rudakubana, who possessed an Al Qaeda training manual in violation of the Terrorism Act, has been sentenced to a minimum of 52 years in prison for the horrific attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class. Mr. Justice Goose stated that Rudakubana will likely spend the rest of his life in custody, with little chance of ever being released.
The details of his crimes were revealed in court for the first time, including distressing CCTV and dashboard camera footage from outside the Hart Space studios on Hart Street. The footage, shown on courtroom monitors, caused gasps from the public gallery.
The court heard how, on 29 July, shortly after 11:45 BST, Rudakubana entered the sold-out dance workshop, organized by Leanne Lucas, and "systematically" stabbed young girls as they sat making friendship bracelets and singing along to Taylor Swift's music.
Prosecutor Deanna Heer KC also shared disturbing details of Rudakubana’s behavior after his arrest, revealing he boasted about the killings as he was escorted through Copy Lane police station, saying he was "glad the children were dead."
In his sentencing remarks, Judge Goose stated, “I am sure Rudakubana had the settled determination to carry out these offences and, had he been able, he would have killed every child— all 26 of them.” He added that had Rudakubana committed the crime after his 18th birthday, a whole life order with no chance of parole would have been imposed.
The court was shown footage of Rudakubana booking a taxi to Hart Street after leaving his home in Old School Close, Banks, at 11:10 BST. The driver’s dashboard camera captured Rudakubana walking into the Hart Space building, where 26 children, Ms. Lucas, and her colleague Heidi Liddle were inside. Seconds later, screams filled the courtroom as footage showed the girls fleeing the dance studio in terror.
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