Axel Rudakubana sentencing could include 'mental health evidence' in his defence

Southport attacker Rudakubana will be sentenced on Thursday over admitting the murder of three young girls at a dance class in July 2024.

Court artist sketch by Elizabeth Cook of Southport stabbings suspect Axel Rudakubana, 18, appearing on the first day of his trial at Liverpool Crown Court, where he has pleaded guilty to murdering three young girls in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class. Rudakubana has also pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of eight other children and to the attempted murder of Leanne Lucas and Jonathan Hayes in Southport, Merseyside on July 29, 2024. Picture date: Monday January 20, 2025.
Axel Rudakubana, 18, appearing on the first day of his trial at Liverpool Crown Court, where he pleaded guilty. (Alamy)

The mental health history of Southport attacker Axel Rudakubana could play a factor in his sentencing this week, a court has heard.

After unexpectedly pleading guilty on the first day of his trial on Monday, 18-year-old Rudakubana will appear before a judge at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday for sentencing, rather than face a four-week trial as anticipated.

Asking if there was any material the defence wanted to place before the court ahead of the sentencing, barrister Stan Reiz, replied: “There is considerable material about the defendant’s mental health before these offences were committed.”

The judge then suggested there could be "previous incidents that may be relevant" to how the defendant is sentenced, to which Reiz said, "Yes, my lord". However, Reiz added there would be no psychiatric report.

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The latest remarks come despite the court previously hearing how Rudakubana had no obvious evidence of a mental health disorder.

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Rudakubana, from Banks, Lancashire, pleaded guilty to the murders of Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, at a Taylor-Swift theme dance class on 29 July last year.

He also admitted to the attempted murders of eight other children, class instructor Leanne Lucas and businessman John Hayes.

In addition, he pleaded guilty to possession of a knife, production of a biological toxin, ricin, and possession of information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing to commit an act of terrorism – meaning he is now to be sentenced for 16 separate counts in total.

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There was no indication that Rudakubana was planning on changing his pleas until the first day of his trial, having remained silent and not even speaking to confirm his name during pre-trial hearings.

On Thursday, the judge will hear victim impact statements, from bereaved family members and most likely survivors of the attack, detailing the psychological impact Rudakubana's attack has had on them.

Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, Bebe King, six, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, have been named as the victims of the Southport stabbing. (PA)
Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, Bebe King, six, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, werer killed in the Southport attack. (PA)

While it is not yet clear how many people's testimonies will be read out in court, a number of traumatic accounts have been reported since the attack at the Hart Space in Southport.

In August, the parents of Bebe King told the BBC how their older daughter, nine-year-old Genie, witnessed the attack before managing to escape the venue.

"Her resilience is a testament to the love and bond she shared with her little sister, and we will continue to support her as we navigate this painful journey together as a family," they said.

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Yoga teacher Lucas, who was overseeing the dance class, told LBC Radio how the attack left her feeling "very unsafe" and that she "had lost faith in the world".

The prosecution called also make the case of a lack of remorse shown by Rudakubana.

Speaking outside court after Monday's hearing, deputy chief Crown prosecutor Ursula Doyle said: “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.”

Axel Rudakubana. (PA)
A mugshot of Axel Rudakubana released following his guilty plea. (PA)

However, Rudakubana's mental health history could be presented to the judge by the defence as a mitigating factor ahead of his sentencing.

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It can now be reported that the attacker had a turbulent time at school, with teachers expressing concerns about his behaviour since he entered year nine.

Rudakubana, who is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, is understood to have been expelled from Range High School in Formby after assaulting someone with a hockey stick, the intended target being a former bully or someone he had a grievance with.

He is then thought to have attended two specialist schools, where teachers continued to express concerns about his behaviour. His in-person attendance at Southport's Presfield High School and Specialist College was less than 1%, it is understood.

It was also revealed by the Guardian today that Rudakubana had been referred to the counter-extremism scheme Prevent three times, with the first referral made in 2019 when he was 13.

Concerns were raised in an apparent interest in violence and the killing of children in a school massacre, the newspaper reports, and it was recommended that Rudakubana be referred to other services, but it is not clear if this was followed up.

Despite the severity of his crimes, Rudakubana is not expected to receive a whole life order.

These rarely-issued sentences, the most severe punishments available under UK law, mean the person being convicted will never be considered for release, unless under exceptional compassionate grounds.

Rudakubana is not expected to receive a whole life order because he was 17 at the time of the murders.

The measures can normally only be imposed on criminals aged 21 or over, and are usually only considered for those aged 18 to 20 in exceptional circumstances.

Speaking to Yahoo News, Hannah Costly, associate solicitor at Slater Heelis Solicitors, suggested Rudakabana is "looking at a term of life imprisonment with a very long minimum term".

"Whilst failure to provide an account at any stage of these proceedings would usually have quite an impact on sentence, Rudakabana is already facing a lengthy sentence," she said.

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