Murder of three girls

Southport attacker gets life in prison

Protesters gathered outside the court in Liverpool on Thursday.(Bild: APA/AFP/Darren Staples)

The defendant in the British Southport trial has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of three girls during a Taylor Swift dance class and other charges. 

The 18-year-old must spend at least 52 years in prison, as the competent court in Liverpool ruled. He had pleaded guilty at the beginning of the trial, but otherwise remained silent.

According to the prosecution, the defendant had previously said while on remand: "I'm glad they're dead." Judge Julian Goose said: "It was an extreme, shocking and exceptionally serious crime." Before the sentence was read out, the 18-year-old caused considerable disruption to the proceedings on two occasions, after heckling Judge Goose intervened each time and had him taken to an adjoining room. The man shouted that he was in pain and would not remain calm. After the first interruption, the judge said the defendant was fit according to paramedics. According to British media, more than 30 family members of the victims were present in the courtroom.

The convicted man Axel Rudakubana(Bild: ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Children stabbed to death
The defendant pleaded guilty to all 16 charges on Monday. The 17-year-old at the time of the crime stormed the dance class on July 29, 2024 armed with a knife and stabbed the girls aged six, seven and nine to death. He was also charged with the attempted murder of eight other children and two adults.

These girls lost their lives far too soon.(Bild: APA/AFP/MERSEYSIDE POLICE)

The crime caused great consternation in Great Britain. Driven by misinformation, there were also right-wing extremist and anti-Muslim riots in the aftermath. It was falsely claimed on social media that the perpetrator was a Muslim migrant. There were also protests from far-right groups outside the court. The perpetrator was born in the UK to Rwandan parents and is a British citizen.

Could the crime have been prevented?
Since the guilty plea on Monday, there has been increased discussion about the perpetrator's background and past. He had come to the attention of the authorities several times in his youth because of his tendency towards violence, but no action was taken. Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke to the nation in a speech on Tuesday and linked the perpetrator to terrorism.

The now 18-year-old had also produced a biological poison and was in possession of a terrorist organization manual. Both were found during a search of the apartment he shared with his parents. According to the PA news agency, documents relating to Nazi Germany and car bombs were also found. The government announced that it would initiate a public inquiry into the background.