The mother of Southport stabbing victim Alice de Silva Aguiar has spoken out for the first time since the nine-year-old's tragic murder last year.
Alex Aguiar, 34, has paid tribute to her daughter, who was killed on 29 July, 2024, alongside Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, and Bebe King, 6.
The three girls were attending a Taylor Swift-themed dance class at The Hart Space when Axel Rudakubana, 18, launched his horrific attack seven months ago.
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He pleaded guilty to their murders in January and was subsequently jailed for a minimum of 52 years, with the judge saying it was 'likely' he will never be released from prison.
Alice's mother has now opened up about her grief, while hailing the Southport community for their continued support in wake of the tragedy.
"Everyone has been incredible, people who don't know us and we're not from here and we've got so much help," Alex told the Liverpool Echo. "People have been very kind, wanting to help us. We didn't expect that."
Alex, from Portugal, explained that her and husband Sergio had moved to the area of Marshside in 2010 to raise their daughter.
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She explained that Alice had considered her classmates to be 'her family' as she was an only child, while the schoolgirl had also made a host of friends through dancing.
The mum told how her daughter had attended her first baby ballet class when she was just 16 months old, before going on to attend Southport Dance Academy when she turned four.
Alice was particularly fond of instructor Heidi Liddle, who was one of the adults present that day alongside dance teacher Leanne Lucas.
"She started doing street dance two years ago in the same dance academy, but then she stopped after Heidi went off on maternity leave. She was fuming." Alex said.
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"She kept on doing ballet on Saturdays and then she used to street dance," she went on. "On Thursdays she would do cheerleading at the YMCA and the choir in the school every Tuesday."
Alex said of their family life: "In the weekends we would spend time together, we would go to friends' houses, go out for meals.
"We were always happy to be us three, we had everything so what else could we have asked for."
Alex's friend Sarah, whose daughter Briar was best friends with Alice, recalled some of the memories she'd shared with the youngster, which they both now cherish even more.
"I have lots of memories of Alice beaming out of school, telling me lots of stories," she said. "She was so happy and so funny. Things like parties, the school disco where Alice would have the longest hair."
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The mum explained she is working on a number of projects in honour of Alice's memory, which she hopes to unveil later this year.
She also says she sees Southport as 'home', and has no plans to return to Portugal, adding: "We feel at home and we don't feel like we have to go back."
Topics: UK News, Crime, Taylor Swift, Parenting
Olivia Burke