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Southport killer jailed for at least 52 years Southport killer jailed for at least 52 years
(31 minutes later)
Axel Rudakubana would have been sentenced to a whole life prison term had he been 18 at the time of the mass killing, the judge saidAxel Rudakubana would have been sentenced to a whole life prison term had he been 18 at the time of the mass killing, the judge said
Southport attack killer Axel Rudakubana has been sentenced to a minimum of 52 years for murdering three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class.Southport attack killer Axel Rudakubana has been sentenced to a minimum of 52 years for murdering three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class.
Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, Bebe King, six, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, died while eight other children and two adults – dance class leader Leanne Lucas and businessman Jonathan Hayes – were seriously wounded.Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, Bebe King, six, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, died while eight other children and two adults – dance class leader Leanne Lucas and businessman Jonathan Hayes – were seriously wounded.
The 18-year-old refused to come into the courtroom as he was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court, having been removed from the dock earlier due to disruptive behaviour – which included demands to see a paramedic and shouts of "I feel ill".The 18-year-old refused to come into the courtroom as he was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court, having been removed from the dock earlier due to disruptive behaviour – which included demands to see a paramedic and shouts of "I feel ill".
The teenager unexpectedly pleaded guilty to all 16 charges he faced on Monday.The teenager unexpectedly pleaded guilty to all 16 charges he faced on Monday.
Southport murderer caught on taxi dashcam before attack
Warning: This story will contain distressing detailsWarning: This story will contain distressing details
Judge Mr Justice Goose sentenced him for three counts of murder, 10 of attempted murder, one of producing the biological toxin ricin and one of possession of an Al Qaeda training manual, an offence under the Terrorism Act. Southport murderer caught on taxi dashcam before attack
Mr Justice Goose said: "He will serve almost the whole of his life in custody. I consider it likely he will never be released and he will be in custody for all of his life." Earlier, the details of his crimes were laid out in court for the first time in detail – including CCTV and dashboard camera footage from outside the Hart Space studios on Hart Street.
Today the details of his crimes were laid out in court for the first time in detail – including CCTV and dashboard camera footage from outside the Hart Space studios on Hart Street.
There were gasps from the public gallery as extremely distressing footage was played on the courtroom TV monitors.There were gasps from the public gallery as extremely distressing footage was played on the courtroom TV monitors.
The court heard how, just after 11:45 BST on 29 July, Rudakubana moved through the sold-out dance workshop, organised by Ms Lucas, "systematically" stabbing young girls as they sat making friendship bracelets and singing along to Swift's music.The court heard how, just after 11:45 BST on 29 July, Rudakubana moved through the sold-out dance workshop, organised by Ms Lucas, "systematically" stabbing young girls as they sat making friendship bracelets and singing along to Swift's music.
Deanna Heer KC, prosecuting, also described how Rudakubana gloated about the attacks as he was escorted through Copy Lane police station after his arrest – saying he was "glad the children were dead".Deanna Heer KC, prosecuting, also described how Rudakubana gloated about the attacks as he was escorted through Copy Lane police station after his arrest – saying he was "glad the children were dead".
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In his sentencing remarks, Judge Mr Justice Goose said: "I am sure Rudakubana had the settled determination to carry out these offences and had he been able to, he would have killed each and every child – all 26 of them."In his sentencing remarks, Judge Mr Justice Goose said: "I am sure Rudakubana had the settled determination to carry out these offences and had he been able to, he would have killed each and every child – all 26 of them."
Rudakubana was sentenced for three counts of murder, 10 of attempted murder, one of producing the biological toxin ricin and one of possession of an Al Qaeda training manual, an offence under the Terrorism Act.
Mr Justice Goose said: "He will serve almost the whole of his life in custody. I consider it likely he will never be released and he will be in custody for all of his life."
The judge said if Rudakubana had committed the offence nine days later, after his 18th birthday, he would have imposed a whole life order with no chance of parole.The judge said if Rudakubana had committed the offence nine days later, after his 18th birthday, he would have imposed a whole life order with no chance of parole.
The court had heard the teenager had booked a taxi to take him to Hart Street after leaving his home in Old School Close, Banks, west Lancashire, at 11:10 BST. The court had heard how the teenager had booked a taxi to take him to Hart Street after leaving his home in Old School Close, Banks, west Lancashire, at 11:10 BST.
Ms Deer played footage of Rudakubana asking the driver to point him to the address of the dance class – before getting out without paying.Ms Deer played footage of Rudakubana asking the driver to point him to the address of the dance class – before getting out without paying.
The driver's dashboard camera also captured Rudakubana walk up the stairs of the Hart Space building to the first-floor studio which had 26 children, Ms Lucas, and her colleague and friend Heidi Liddle inside.The driver's dashboard camera also captured Rudakubana walk up the stairs of the Hart Space building to the first-floor studio which had 26 children, Ms Lucas, and her colleague and friend Heidi Liddle inside.
Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, and Bebe King, six, had been having fun listening to their "idol" Taylor Swift when Rudakubana struckElsie Dot Stancombe, seven, Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, and Bebe King, six, had been having fun listening to their "idol" Taylor Swift when Rudakubana struck
Seconds later, the sounds of screaming children filled the courtroom and the footage showed girls streaming out of the Hart Space dance studio.Seconds later, the sounds of screaming children filled the courtroom and the footage showed girls streaming out of the Hart Space dance studio.
The families of the victims cried in the public gallery as Ms Deer played footage of three of the girls staggering into the street and collapsing – including two of the survivors and Alice.The families of the victims cried in the public gallery as Ms Deer played footage of three of the girls staggering into the street and collapsing – including two of the survivors and Alice.
One of those survivors, a seven-year-old girl referred to as Child A, had been pulled back inside the building by Rudakubana as she tried to escape and was stabbed repeatedly, before managing to stagger into the street where she fell to the ground.One of those survivors, a seven-year-old girl referred to as Child A, had been pulled back inside the building by Rudakubana as she tried to escape and was stabbed repeatedly, before managing to stagger into the street where she fell to the ground.
Inside the studio, Bebe had been subjected to 122 knife wounds, while Elsie Dot had 85.
Ms Liddle and one other child were hiding in a locked toilet on a landing outside – Ms Liddle later describing how she realised that some of the children had not escaped when she heard them begging Rudakubana to stop.
'Utter shock and horror'
Ms Deer said: "There is no evidence that [Rudakubana] ascribed to any particular political or religious ideology; he wasn't fighting for a cause.Ms Deer said: "There is no evidence that [Rudakubana] ascribed to any particular political or religious ideology; he wasn't fighting for a cause.
"His only purpose was to kill and he targeted the youngest, most vulnerable in order to spread the greatest level of fear and outrage, which he succeeded in doing.""His only purpose was to kill and he targeted the youngest, most vulnerable in order to spread the greatest level of fear and outrage, which he succeeded in doing."
The police arrived at Hart Street shortly before 11:59 BST – three officers and a member of the public, window-cleaner Joel Verite, charged up those stairs to find Rudakubana stood over the body of Bebe King holding a knife.
Police body-camera footage showed him tackled to the floor as Mr Verite shouted in utter shock and horror at the injuries he saw had been inflicted on Bebe.
Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, external, X, external, and Instagram, external and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, external, X, external, and Instagram, external and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.