Attacker admits murdering three girls in knife rampage at Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport

20 January 2025, 11:36 | Updated: 20 January 2025, 16:31

Knife attacker Axel Rudakubana, 18, has pleaded guilty on the first day of his trial to murdering three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport.

Rudakubana, who spoke alound in court for the first time today, pleaded guilty to murdering Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven.

He refused to stand when asked to by the court clerk and judge after entering court and did not reply when he was asked to confirm his name.

‘I lost faith in the world’: Teacher of Southport dance class where three girls were killed speaks for the first time

Stan Reiz KC, defending, approached the dock to speak to the defendant and Rudakubana nodded in response to him.

Mr Reiz confirmed there was no dispute that the defendant was Rudakubana and he could hear what was being said.

Judge Mr Justice Goose said: "And he is choosing not to speak?"

Mr Reiz said: "Yes, my lord."

He then asked for the indictment to be put to the defendant again.

After a brief, inaudible interaction with the defendant, Mr Reiz asked for the charges to be put again to Rudakubana.

Wearing a face mask, seated with his head almost touching his knees, Rudakubana replied, "guilty" to each of the 16 counts on the indictment.

Mr Justice Goose has ordered Rudakubana be sentenced on Thursday.

Mr Justice Goose told the killer: "You will understand it is inevitable the sentence to be imposed upon you will mean a life sentence equivalent will be imposed upon you.

"I will have to complete the sentencing process on that on that occasion."

Rudakubana also admitted the production of a biological toxin, ricin, and possession of a document likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, namely a PDF file titled Military Studies in the Jihad against Tyrants: The Al-Qaeda Training Manual.

He also pleaded guilty to having a kitchen knife in a public place.

Sir Keir Starmer said the conviction of the "vile and sick Southport killer" Axel Rudakubana was welcome but a "moment of trauma for the nation".

He said: "Our thoughts are with the families of Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, and the families of everyone affected, who will be saved the ordeal of a protracted trial.

"The news that the vile and sick Southport killer will be convicted is welcome.

"It is also a moment of trauma for the nation, and there are grave questions to answer as to how the state failed in its ultimate duty to protect these young girls.

"Britain will rightly demand answers, and we will leave no stone unturned in that pursuit.

"At the centre of this horrific event, there is still a family and community grief that is raw, a pain that not even justice can ever truly heal.

"Although no words today can ever truly convey the depths of that pain, I want the families to know that our thoughts are with them and everyone in Southport affected by this barbaric crime.

"The whole nation grieves with them."

Ursula Doyle, Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor with CPS Mersey-Cheshire, said: "Axel Rudakubana has today pleaded guilty to the murder of Elsie Dot Stancombe, Bebe King, and Alice da Silva Aguiar – as well as the attempted murder of ten others – including Leanne Lucas and John Hayes.

"This was an unspeakable attack – one which left an enduring mark on our community and the nation for its savagery and senselessness.

"At the start of the school holidays, a day which should have been one of carefree innocence; of children enjoying a dance workshop and making friendship bracelets, became a scene of the darkest horror as Axel Rudakubana carried out his meticulously planned rampage.

"It is clear that this was a young man with a sickening and sustained interest in death and violence. He has shown no sign of remorse.

"The prosecution was determined to prove his guilt and I am deeply grateful that today’s plea has spared the families at the heart of this case the pain of having to relive their ordeal through a trial.

"Today, our thoughts are with all those whose lives were altered by what happened on that day.

"Most of all, we think of Elsie, Bebe, and Alice – the three beautiful young girls whose lives were cut short – and wish strength and courage to the families who loved and cherished them."

Rudakubana was excluded from his secondary school for an incident involving a hockey stick, according to the PA news agency.

The teenager, who is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, is believed to have left Range High School in Formby in around 2019, before moving to a specialist school.

Teachers at the specialist school, which was within the borough of Sefton, were concerned about Rudakubana's behaviour and his violence towards others, it is understood.

At his first appearance at Liverpool Crown Court, Deanna Heer KC, prosecuting, said it was understood Rudakubana had been unwilling to leave the house and communicate with his family for a period of time.

She said: "He was seen by the psychiatrists at the police station but refused to engage with them."

The court was told he had no obvious evidence of mental health disorder which required diversion to hospital.

His mother, father and older brother were co-operating with police and had provided witness statements.

At all of his court appearances, Rudakubana held his sweatshirt over his face and refused to speak.

When he first entered Liverpool Magistrates' Court at an earlier hearing, he was seen to smile towards members of the press before covering his face.

In November last year, the teacher who led the dance class told LBC the experience led her to “lose faith in the world”.

Yoga teacher Leanne Lucas was overseeing the Taylor Swift-themed dance class at the Hart Space in Southport on on July 29 when the attack happened.

“It has just made us feel very unsafe," she admitted.

“My purpose was creating wellbeing events for children and families, and for that to happen where I was, and for the words I spoke and the children spoke, for that to be trampled over has really dampened all of our spirits.

“It left us feeling unsafe, feeling like we just lost faith in the world.”

She said: “I try to resemble it as us being connected by an invisible piece of string. We’re all connected in the most horrible way.

“Sometimes that string will tangle, fray and knot, but at the best of times, it’ll wrap together and it has brought a lot of us closer.

“It’s created kindness and warmth, and created a strong force that we couldn’t have imagined would be possible out of something so horrific.

She adds: “There’s been a lot of love come from Southport, a lot of love come from all over the world. The impact has been tragic but there has been some goodness at times.”

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said earlier the whole country will be thinking of the families of three girls.

"This will be a deeply traumatic and distressing time for the families of Alice, Bebe and Elsie, the survivors, and the people of Southport and the whole country will be thinking of them."