Public inquiry announced into Axel Rudakubana’s murders: Southport trial latest

Kemi Badenoch insisted there needs to be a “complete account of who in Government knew what and when” in the case of Axel Rudakubana.

The Tory leader said in a post on X (Twitter): “As we learn more details of Axel Rudakubana’s horrific crimes, my thoughts are first and foremost with the victims’ families.

“We will need a complete account of who in Government knew what and when. The public deserves the truth.

“This case is still in court and there are, properly, limits on what can be said at this stage.

“But once it concludes on Thursday with sentencing, there are many important questions the authorities will need to answer about the handling of this case and the flow of information.”

Our Crime Correspondent Amy-Clare Martin reports:

Three girls died at a Taylor Swift-themed class in The Hart Space on a small business park in the seaside town shortly before midday on 29 July last year.

Alice da Silva Aguiar, aged nine:

• Alice, who grew up in a Portuguese household, was dedicated to dance.
• She was pictured eagerly waiting to get into the Taylor Swift-themed event on the day she was killed.
• The animal lover enjoyed shutting the curtains and watching Disney Plus with popcorn, her parents said.
• Her father Sergio and mother Alexandra, said Alice was “our perfect dream child, everything was idyllic from the moment you arrived”.

Bebe King, aged six:

• Bebe’s parents described her as a “sweet, kind, and spirited girl”.
• A statement from Lauren and Ben King said: “Our beloved Bebe, only six-years-old, was full of joy, light, and love, and she will always remain in our hearts as the sweet, kind, and spirited girl we adore.”
• Bebe’s parents also said their older daughter, Genie, witnessed the attack and managed to escape, praising her “incredible strength and courage”.

Elsie Dot Stancombe, aged seven:

• At her funeral last summer, Elsie Dot Stancombe was described as “a little girl who loved a big party”.
• Her coffin, topped with a blue cuddly toy, was carried up a pink carpet as members of her cheerleading squad, Vortex Cheer, formed a guard of honour.
• Taylor Swift’s Love Story, one of her favourite songs, was performed at the end of the service, which was also attended by the family dog Bobby.
• Elsie’s family has described her as having the “ability to light up any room that she entered”.

Britain will “rightly demand answers” over how the state “failed” to protect the three young girls murdered in the Southport attack, prime minister Sir Keir Starmer said.

Sir Keir 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.”

Reform UK will ask Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to appear in Parliament and account for why Axel Rudakubana’s terror links were not revealed sooner, Nigel Farage has said.

Mr Farage told the PA news agency: “I asked that question 24 hours after the murders. I said why are we not being told the truth? Was this man known to the authorities? We were met with a complete wall of silence. The Prime Minister and the Home Secretary refused to engage, Liverpool police refused to engage.

“There was nothing about what I asked that would have in any way threatened contempt of court. This is basic background information that the public was entitled to.

“I was accused by mainstream media publications and senior politicians of stoking and encouraging the riots, when actually the riots were happening because of the vacuum of information and crazy conspiracy theories gaining traction online.”

He added: “I think that the Government are responsible for the most astonishing cover-up. I think that we need an apology from the Home Secretary and an explanation as to why we have been denied the basic truth.”

Asked if he would be raising this in the Commons, Mr Farage replied: “We will, as a party, table an urgent question on this. Absolutely.”

Nearly 450 people have been sentenced for offences in connection with the riots and disorder that broke out in parts of the country after the knife attack by Axel Rudakubana at a Southport dance studio on July 29 2024 that left three girls dead.

How many people have been sent to jail?

• A total of 385 of the 446 people received immediate custodial sentences, including two under-18s.
• Of the 61 others, 16 received suspended jail sentences; 32 (all aged under 18) received referral orders; two were fined; four received community orders; four (all under 18) received detention and training orders; two were referred to a youth offender panel; and one was sentenced to 120 hours of unpaid work.

What are the longest jail sentences so far?

• The longest is nine years, which has been handed to two people.
• The average is 25 months.

What is the most common offence for which people have been sentenced?

• Violent disorder. Some 369 of the 446 people sentenced had been charged with violent disorder, either by itself or in combination with other charges.
• Other charges that have led to jail sentences include assaulting emergency workers, possession of a knife or sharp object in a public place, publishing written material to stir up racial hatred, and causing racially aggravated intentional harassment.

Which police forces account for the most number of people sentenced?

• Four police forces together account for more than half of those sentenced: Merseyside (94 people, or 21% of the total), South Yorkshire (80, or 18%), Cleveland (41, or 9%) and Avon & Somerset (40 or 9%).
• The next highest forces are Humberside (26 or 6%); Devon & Cornwall (22, 5%); Greater Manchester (21, 5%) and Staffordshire (20, 4%).

Axel Rudakubana was referred to the government’s counter-terrorism Prevent programme several times before the attack amid concerns over his fixation with violence, The Independent understands.

The Southport case has never been treated as terror-related by police as he did not appear to follow an ideology, such as Islamism or racial hatred, and instead seemed to be motivated by an interest in extreme violence.

Speaking outside court following the guilty pleas entered by Axel Rudakubana, Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor Ursula Doyle said: “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.”

Axel Rudakubana has pleaded guilty to all charges against him.

The 18-year-old’s trial at Liverpool Crown Court had been expected to take around four weeks and would have involved a range of evidence including from live witnesses, all heard in front of a jury.

Now that Rudakubana has pleaded guilty to all charges, this process will no longer be necessary.

However, it is standard practice in cases like this for the prosecution to present the facts of the case to the judge as part of the sentencing hearing, and the defence barrister to make submissions in mitigation.

This all takes place in open court so journalists and the public can hear the full details of the case.

In addition, because Rudakubana has pleaded guilty, there is no legal risk of prejudicing a jury trial, so the police and Crown Prosecution Service are free to comment on the case and release background information as they see fit.