Axel Rudakubana sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 52 years for Southport murders
Axel Rudakubana has been handed life sentences with a minimum term of 52 years for the murder of three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class.
Rudakubana has also been given concurrent life sentences with minimum terms of 18 years for eight counts of attempting to murder several children, and 16 years for the two adults he attempted to murder.
In total, he has been handed a total of 13 life sentences, as judge Justice Goose stated that he is likely to never be released from prison for his crimes.
He has also been given sentences of 12 years for producing ricin, as well as 18 months for possession of an Al-Qaeda manual, and 18 months for possession of a knife.
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Rudakubana was 17 when he committed the murders of Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Bebe King, six, following a knife attack at the dance class at The Hart Space on 29 July 2024.
Cardiff-born Rudakubana also attempted to murder eight other children, who cannot be named for legal reasons, class instructor Leanne Lucas, and businessman John Hayes.
The reason why Rudakubana wasn’t eligible for a whole life order conviction, which is given to the very worst of murderers, is because he was 17 when he committed the crimes.
Due to him being nine days away from his 18th birthday when he committed the murders, it was legally required to have a minimum term in his sentencing, the judge highlighted.
A whole life order - or a life sentence - can only be given to someone who was aged 18 or over when they committed the crime, according to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022.
When the 18-year-old was held by police following his arrest, he said: "I’m glad those kids are dead," PA Media has reported.
Rudakubana then shouted in court: "I need a paramedic because I feel ill," but judge Justice Goose said that he wanted 'this hearing to continue'.
One family member shouted 'coward' when Rudakubana left the dock complaining of chest pains, as the judge ordered officers to take him out of court for shouting.
"Shouting from the dock is not going to make this happen any quicker. If you remain quiet you will be able to see someone," the judge said.
"I’m not going to remain quiet, I am in pain," the murderer replied.
After being taken out of court to a side room, medical staff saw to Rudakubana whilst proceedings continued.
The sentencing hearing resumed after lunch as Rudakubana returned to the dock to receive the verdict before he was removed for a second time for shouting.
"I need to be seen by a paramedic - I feel ill," he told the court, despite being seen by two teams of paramedics who said he was fit to attend.
Rudakubana pleaded guilty to all 16 offences, including three counts of murder, on the first day of his trial on Monday (20 July).
The Southport attack, however, has not been declared a terrorist incident despite the discovery of a PDF file entitled Military Studies In The Jihad Against The Tyrants, The Al Qaeda Training Manual, which Rudakubana possessed between 29 August 2021 and 30 July 2024.
He also pleaded guilty to possession of a knife and admitted production of a biological toxin, ricin, on or before 29 July, and possession of information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing to commit an act of terrorism.
Rudakubana was born in the Welsh capital to Rwandan parents in 2006, and moved to the Southport area in 2013.
The BBC said he appeared in a promotional video for Children in Need in 2018, but the clip has been removed since the Southport incident.
Neighbours who lived near Rudakubana in Banks, West Lancashire, told the BBC that the police visited his home a number of times prior to the attack.
On that tragic day, he was said to have searched for the 2024 Sydney church attack on X, which displayed information about how Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel and five others were stabbed.
He then deleted his internet history before heading out to commit the abhorrent crimes.
"I watched you stab someone and then I saw you coming for me," a 14-year-old girl who survived the attack, and cannot be named for legal reasons, told the court via video link. "It was like slow motion.
"You stabbed me in the arm and instinctively I turned and that’s when you continued to stab me in the back although I didn’t feel it at the time.
"All I could heard was the screams. I was so scared of what you were doing and I was in a blind panic."
She added: "No sane person could do that. It’s sickening what you did, going in there knowing you’re going into a room full of defenceless children.
"Give me a reason for what you did. Arming yourself with a weapon and stabbing children. I hope you spend the rest of your life knowing we think you’re a coward."
Anish Vij