Axel Rudakubana updates: Southport MP slams ‘unduly lenient’ sentence for crime that has ‘terrorised’ victims & families

Killer made call to Childline in 2019

Rudakubana made a call to Childline on October 4, 2019.

In the call, he asked: "What should I do if I want to kill somebody?"

Ms Heer says: "In the days that followed he explained that he hated someone at school who’d bullied him.

“He felt angry and wanted to kill them. He said he had taken a knife to school but would only use it if the person really annoyed him.”

Rudakubana 'wanted to stab someone' because of 'embarrassing' TikTok videos

Rudakubana stopped attending school in May 2021.

A place was found for him at another school in March the following year, but he did not attend.

He was then reported missing in March 2022.

When found by police, he was in possession of a small kitchen knife.

He told officers he wanted to stab someone "so that he would get into trouble".

Ms Heer says: "He said that he wanted to stab someone so that he would get into trouble and his TikTok account, which contained embarrassing videos that he was unable to delete, would be closed down by the police.

"He said he had also thought about poisoning people and/or had tried to make poison for the same reason."

Rudakubana’s vile search history

Police found violent content during analysis of Rudakubana‘s internet devices.

They contained cached images of knives and machetes from Amazon.

Police also found images of dead bodies, victims of torture, beheadings, cartoons depicting killing, violence and rape.

There were numerous images relating to different wars and international conflicts, including in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, Korea, Iraq and the Balkans.

The court heard a number of documents were found which also related to war, weapons and genocide.

Rudakubana's previous convictions

The killer's previous convictions have been read to the court.

He has previous convictions for assault, possession of an offensive weapon and possession of a bladed article over an incident at his old school.

Rudakubana booked a taxi to take him to The Range High School, where he then used a hockey stick to attack another pupil in December 11, 2019.

When the police were called, a kitchen knife was found in his backpack.

Machete found in Rudakubana’s bedroom

When searches were able to resume, police found further weapons in the teen's bedroom.

They found a machete in a scabbard and a set of arrows to be used with a bow-and-arrow.

It appeared he had been sleeping in the living room.

An identical knife to the blade used in the attack was found, both bought from Amazon.

Search of Rudakubana's home halted after ricin found

Cops carried out a search if the teenager's home following his arrest.

But the court has heard how police had to stop the search after making a horrifying discovery.

Officers came across a box filled with material they suspected to be ricin, a deadly toxin.

Ms Heer says: "Due to the risk to public health, the search was halted until specialist protective equipment was available.”

An expert later found the box contained “actively toxic ricin pulp”.

Ms Heer adds: "There is no antidote (for ricin poisoning) and only a very small amount of it may be deadly."

Rudakubana said 'I'm glad those kids are dead'

The vile killer made "unsolicited comments in his police cell, all of which were caught on CCTV.

It included: “I don’t care, I’m feeling neutral.”

And: "It’s a good thing those children are dead.”

Rudakubana 'remained silent in police interview'

Following his arrest on suspicion of murder, the killer was assessed by psychiatrists in his cell.

He was deemed fit for interview.

But when questioned by detectives, Rudakubana remained silent throughout.

Rudakubana ordered to leave court again

Axel Rudakubana returned to the dock after the court rose for lunch.

The killer looked around briefly before dropping his head into his lap.

Before he entered, Mr Justice Goose said: “I understand the defendant has actually been seen again and found to be fit, physically, to come into court for the moment, he continues to indicate that were he to do so he would disrupt proceedings.”

Rudakubana has now been removed from the dock for a second time after he began to shout.

After sitting quietly for a short period with his head lowered he shouted: “Judge! "I feel really ill, I need to be seen by a paramedic."

When there was no response, he again shouted: “Judge! Judge! Judge! I need to be seen by a paramedic.”

Killer's sickening outbursts

Southport MP Patrick Hurley slammed the twisted teen for his vile courtroom outbursts.

He said Rudakubana showed "utter disrespect to the families" of victims because of his behaviour.

A new court sketch shows the killer with his arms out as he claimed he needed a paramedic.

Why won't Southport killer die behind bars?

Axel Rudakubana carried out his twisted rampage when he was 17 years old but despite the horrific nature of his crimes, he will not be given a whole life tariff today.

The rare sentencing order can only be handed down to anyone aged 21 or over.

Due to Rudakubana's age, this means he will not spend the rest of his life in prison.

Whole-life orders can sometimes be considered for those aged 18 to 20 in exceptional circumstances.

Although Rudakubana is now 18, he does not fall into this category due to the fact he was 17 when he committed his offences.

The killer will instead be given a life sentence but with a minimum tariff. This means he must spend that amount of time behind bars before he is considered for release.

Depending on the facts of the offence, the starting point for the minimum time served in prison for an adult ranges from 15 to 30 years. 

For an offender under 18 the starting point is 12 years.

In cases where the offender brings a knife to the scene and uses it to commit murder the starting point is 25 years for an offender aged 18 or over and 12 years for an offender aged under 18. 

Due to the severity of the case and the number of victims, it is likely Rudakubana will spend decades in jail before he is freed.

Horrific case

The court heard details of the children's injuries that were so horrific, their parents asked the media not to repeat them.

Court has broken for lunch

Rudakubana's sentencing will continue at 2pm

'You need a gun mate'

As police arrive at the Hart Centre, a member of the public tells them Rudakubana is armed with a knife.

The man tells them: "You need a f****** gun mate, he’s got a knife."

Bodyworn footage showed officers enter the building and tell Rudakubana to drop the knife.

They tackle him to the floor and arrest him.

A picture of the knife used by Rudakubana is shown to the court.

Family members are shown CCTV of attack

CCTV of Rudakubana is being played to the court, with many members of the victims' families watching.

They are given the option to leave by the judge, but all have chosen to stay.

Footage shows Rudakubana entering the dance event, before screams are heard.

One woman in the public gallery puts her hand over her face and sobs, being comforted by those sitting next to her.

The families are in tears as the traumatic CCTV is shown.

Deanna Heer KC, prosecuting, pauses to allow the families another chance to leave the court.

But again they choose to stay.

First police offer to arrive describes traumatic scene

PS Gillespie was the first police officer to arrive following the knife attack.

He described finding "a large crowd of people in a state of complete panic".

He entered Hart Space accompanied by a colleague, who had his Taser drawn.

Rudakubana was then found holding a bloodied kitchen knife, which he dropped when ordered to do so by the two officers.

Businessman stabbed in the leg as he rushed to help

Jonathan Hayes worked at an office in the same building the event was taking place in.

He left his desk and rushed in to try and help.

But he was then attacked by Rudakubana, who then "swiped at him" with his knife.

During the fight, he was stabbed in the leg and fell to the ground.

A colleague was then able to chase the teenager out the door.

Window cleaners 'ran inside after hearing screams'

Marcin Tyjon and Joel Verite, were driving along the road when they saw the victims "covered in blood"

Leanne told the pair that "someone was stabbing the kids".

Teacher 'hid child in toilet'

Teacher Heidi Little heroically helped one of the children into a toilet and away from the knifeman.

The court hears: "One of the girls… ran towards the toilet on the landing at the top of the stairs.

“Heidi Liddle followed her inside, locked the door and braced her foot against it. She told (the girl) to remain very quiet, not to make a sound."

Rudakubana 'stabbed little girls without saying anything'

Ms Deer is describing the horror moment Rudakubana launched his attack.

Dance teacher Leanne Lucas said Rudakubana "moved on to a second child and then a third".

She only realised he was armed when she felt a knife pushed into her back.

"The door to the studio opened and she (Leanne Lucas) saw him again.

"Without saying a word, he grabbed the child nearest to him from behind and put his arm around her.

“She recalls seeing a flash of the defendant’s green top in the corridor as he chased them.

“She feared that they wouldn’t get out quickly enough but something must have distracted him."

Mum collecting daughter 'saw people running'

A woman who was collecting her daughter "heard screaming" from inside the dance event.

Ms Heer, prosecuting says: "She managed to grab her daughter and get her into the car.

"Three other children also got into her vehicle, one of whom… had a bleeding injury to her chest.

“Alice Da Silva Aguiar, collapsed by the side of the vehicle, badly injured.”

'Screams could be heard'

Rudakubana entered the Hart Space armed with the large knife.

Within 30 seconds, screams could be heard coming from the dance event.

Ms Heer tells the court: "The footage shows that, at about 11.45 the defendant entered The Hart Space and went upstairs towards the studio in which the dance event was taking place.

“Within 30 seconds, screams can be heard coming from within, followed by children fleeing from the building.

“At the time the defendant entered the building, all the children were in the first floor studio, together with Leanne Lucas and Heidi Liddle, where they were gathered around the tables making bracelets and singing along to Taylor Swift songs.

“Because of the heat, Leanne Lucas went to open a window. As she did so, she recalls seeing the defendant outside but thought nothing of it.”

Rudakubana was armed with '20cm knife'

The killer walked into the Taylor Swift-themed event armed with a huge blade.

It was one of two identical knives he had purchased from Amazon on the July 13, 2024.

He journeyed to the scene in a taxi, remaining quiet during the trip.

Rudakubana then left the taxi without paying.

Footage shows the moment he entered the dance event.

Rudakubana seen by medical staff in court

The killer has been seen by medical staff after being removed from court.

An officer entered the dock and said: "Medical staff have seen Rudakubana. They are happy with his state of fitness but would like a second opinion from a doctor.”

Mr Justice Goose said: “That can continue whilst we continue with proceedings.”

Rudakubana said 'I’m glad they’re dead'

Following his arrest after the murders, the warped teen said: "I'm glad they're dead."

Rudakubana was being held in a custody suite when he made the comment.

It comes as prosecutors have said the injuries suffered by his victims are "difficult to explain as anything other than sadistic in nature".