The 17-year-old boy accused of murdering three girls at a dance class in Southport is a ‘quiet’ choirboy who was ‘unwilling to leave the house and communicate with family’, a court has heard.
Axel Rudakubana has appeared in court accused of murdering the children at a Taylor-Swift themed event on Monday.
The teenager, who refused to speak at his court appearance in Liverpool, had been diagnosed with autism and was ‘unwilling to leave the house’ and talk to his family ‘for a period of time’, the court heard.
Neighbours claimed they could often hear the teen, from Cardiff, singing inside his family home in the village of Banks, according to the Mirror.
One local told the Liverpool Echo how they would often ‘hear singing’ from the ‘quiet choirboy’ at the terraced home where he lived with his parents and 20-year-old brother. ‘It’s a massive, massive shock,’ the neighbour said.
Prosecutor Deanna Heer KC described his medical condition, saying: ‘He has a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. We understand he has been unwilling to leave the house and communicate with his family for a period of time.’
Rudakubana (pictured as a child) is charged with murdering three little girls and harming 10 others at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport with a ‘curved kitchen knife’
Southport stabbing suspect Axel Rudakubana, now 17, pictured as a child, is charged with murdering three little girls and harming 10 others
Court artist drawing of Rudakubana covering his face as he appeared in the dock at Liverpool Crown Court
Judge Andrew Menary condemned the ‘idiotic rioting’ which has broken out since the attack and said he named Rudakubana
Judge Andrew Menary condemned the ‘idiotic rioting’ which has broken out since the attack and said he named Rudakubana to fill the information vacuum exploited by ‘others who are up to mischief’.
He said: ‘The idiotic rioting going on at the moment is, in part, fed by the nonsense online that feeds on the vacuum.’
Judge Menary explained what he described as an ‘exceptional’ decision against imposing reporting restrictions sought by both prosecution and defence, which would have granted the defendant anonymity until he turns 18 next Wednesday.
He said he had to balance a risk to the defendant’s family and initial risk to him while settling into custody with the public interest in accurately reporting his identity.
Granting the Daily Mail’s request not to impose restrictions, he said: ‘By continuing to prevent full reporting at this stage has the disadvantage of allowing others who are up to mischief to continue to spread misinformation in a vacuum and runs the risk that when the information becomes publicly available in six days’ time, that will provide an additional excuse for a fresh round of public disorder.
‘Allowing full reporting will undoubtedly remove some of the misreporting as to the identity of the defendant.’
The judge added: ‘The defendant Axel Rudakubana appears before me having been sent to this court earlier this morning by the Youth Court in respect of multiple charges of murder and attempted murder.
‘The alleged offending in his case is shocking and could hardly be more serious, involving as it does the killing and serious wounding of multiple victims, most of whom were young children, in an incident in Southport on Monday 29 July 2024.’
Bebe King, aged six, was also killed in the attack. A teenager is set to appear in court charged with three counts of murder
Elsie Dot Stancombe, aged seven, was also fatally wounded in the attack which shocked the nation on Monday
Alice Dasilva Aguiar, aged nine, was one of three children killed by a knifeman at a Taylor-Swift themed dance class in Southport
He said delaying reporting of Rudakubana’s name until next week could even ‘provide an additional excuse for a fresh round of public disorder’.
The judge added: ‘It seems to be in those circumstances that an order made today would have little practical effect in terms of protecting the welfare of AR, and the balance comes down clearly in favour of the public interest in allowing full reporting of these proceedings.
‘I understand that revealing the defendant’s identity will cause concern and distress to his family, but their identity is generally already known within the local community and much about them has already been widely published online, in the print media and on television reports.
‘Though not central to my consideration , it may be that allowing full reporting will remove some of the mystique and misreporting that has taken place typically online as to the identity and other details concerning the defendant.
‘This may be a case where others have taken advantage of the perceived vacuum in information over the past few days.’
Rudakubana was born to Rwandan parents in Cardiff in 2006 before moving to the village of Banks in Lancashire in 2013.
He is accused of carrying out the attack that killed Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine.
Rudakubana is also accused of the attempted murders of eight more children, along with dance teacher Leanne Lucas, 35, and businessman John Hayes.
Rudakubana (pictured as a child) is also accused of the attempted murders of eight more children, along with dance teacher Leanne Lucas, 35, and businessman John Hayes
Rudakubana covers his face in the dock at Liverpool Crown Court after being charged with three counts of murder and 10 counts of attempted murder
Up until now, the teenager’s identity could not be revealed because suspects under 18 receive automatic anonymity in all UK court cases, except for in exceptional circumstances.
But after a successful application to the judge by the Mail, Rudakubana’s name can now be reported.
Judge Andrew Menary KC said he had to balance the risk to the suspect’s family and the risk to him in custody with the public interest accurately reporting his identity.
Far-right mobs took to the streets of Southport and and other major UK cities this week after a fake news website spread misinformation about the identity of the suspect.
Russian state media were among those falsely claiming that the suspect had arrived by boat to the UK last year, sharing claims that he was on an M16 watch list.
It led to violent riots, seeing dozens of police officers injured, wheelie bins set alight and emergency vehicles set on fire.
In a bid to quell tensions – after more riots broke out in London, Manchester Hartlepool, and Aldershot – Judge Menary revealed Rudakubana’s identity.
As the suspected murderer arrived at the court he was met by dozens of people shouting, with one man having to be held back by police officers as the van holding him past.
The revelation comes as two children hurt in the attack were discharged from Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, with five others in a ‘stable condition’.
Rudakubana (pictured in a video) could not previously be named because suspects under 18 receive automatic anonymity in all UK court cases, except for in exceptional circumstances
Another young picture of Rudakubana
A man is held back by police as a prison van escorted by multiple police cars leaves Liverpool Crown Court
The white van carrying Axel Rudakubana, 17, who is accused of killing three young girls arrives as Liverpool Magistrates Court
Rudakubana seen arriving at court in a police convoy
A prison van (centre) escorted by multiple police vehicles leaves Liverpool Crown Court
A man is held back by police as a prison van escorted by multiple police vehicles leaves Liverpool Crown Court
Honorary Recorder of Liverpool Judge Andrew Menary KC said he had to balance the risk to the defendant’s family and the initial risk while in custody against the public interest in accurately reporting his identity.
He said: ‘By continuing to prevent full reporting at this stage has the disadvantage of allowing others who are up to mischief to continue to spread misinformation in a vacuum and runs the risk that when the information becomes publicly available in six days’ time, that will provide an additional excuse for a fresh round of public disorder.
‘Allowing full reporting will undoubtedly remove some of the misreporting as to the identity of the defendant.’
A provisional trial date at Liverpool Crown Court, set to last six weeks, was scheduled for January 20 next year.
Rudakubana spent the entire 55 minutes of the hearing covering his whole face, with his grey sweatshirt pulled up to his hairline and at times rocking back and forth, side to side.
He will next appear at Liverpool Crown Court on October 25 for a plea and trial preparation hearing.
Until then he will be remanded in youth accommodation detention.
Judge Menary told the defendant, who did not acknowledge the judge and continued to keep his head down: ‘You are remanded to youth detention accommodation until these proceedings have been completed.
‘That position might change when you achieve your majority in a short while.’
Earlier, the suspect attended a hearing at Liverpool City Magistrates’ Court which lasted just five minutes.
During proceedings, prosecutor Deanna Heer alleged a ‘kitchen knife with a curved blade’ had been used during the rampage.
During that time Rudakubana, who is also charged with possessing an offensive weapon, wore a baggy grey tracksuit and black slippers and pulled his sweatshirt over his face above his nose, keeping his head low.
At one point in the hearing, the teenager, who did not speak once, looked back at the group of around 20 reporters that were sat behind the dock.
The suspect arrived at the court around 9.30am in a white prison van flanked by a large escort of at least eight police vehicles.
The large police presence comes amid fears angry protesters will turn up outside the courthouse, after a series of riots have swept the country in recent days.
More than 100 people were arrested in London last night following a far-right protest in Whitehall, with further unrest in Hartlepool, Manchester and Aldershot.
On Tuesday night, an angry mob took to the streets of Southport after a vigil to remember victims of the mass stabbing at the workshop attended by 25 children.
Axel Muganwa Rudakubana, 17, leaves Liverpool Magistrates’ Court after being charged with three counts of murder
The convoy of police vans escorted the prison van away from Liverpool Crown Court
The suspect was surrounded by a convoy of eight police cars and vans, with officers fearing they could be met with angry protesters following Monday night’s riots
Floral and written tributes are left alongside balloons and teddy bears at the scene of the stabbings on Hart Street, Southport
Forensic officers are pictured at the scene as emergency crews battled to save children
Forensic officers on Hart Street in Southport, Merseyside, where a horrifying knife rampage took place
Emergency crews swoop on the area after a group of children were attacked at Taylor Swift-themed dance class
The defendant, born in Cardiff to Rwandan parents, is accused of entering a dance studio in Hart Street and attacking children and adults who were inside on Monday afternoon.
Eight other children suffered knife wounds – with five left in a critical condition in hospital – while two adults who tried to save the young ones in the summer holiday club were also seriously wounded.
The adults harmed were dance teacher Leanne Lucas, 35, and businessman John Hayes who tried to help.
In a statement Merseyside Police said yesterday: ‘We can confirm that a 17-year-old boy from Banks has been charged with the murders of Bebe, Elsie Dot and Alice; 10 counts of attempted murder; and Possession of a bladed article, following the tragic incident in Southport on Monday, 29 July.
‘He has been remanded in custody to appear tomorrow, Thursday 1 August at Liverpool Magistrates Court, Derby Square.’
Chief Constable Serena Kennedy said: ‘Whilst these charges are a significant milestone within this investigation, this remains very much a live investigation and we continue to work with our partners from Lancashire Police and Counter Terrorism Policing North West (CTPNW).
Leanne Lucas, who organised the Taylor Swift-themed holiday club, has had life-saving surgery and is now awake, her family said on Wednesday
Yesterday floral tributes, balloons and soft toys covered the street near the police cordon
Friendship bracelets reading ‘Beautiful Swifties’ are seen next to electric tea lights amid floral tributes for the victims of a deadly knife attack at the Atkinson in Southport
‘I would like to thank all of the forces who have offered and supplied support to Merseyside Police during the last three days and I can confirm that we are being supported with investigative resources from across the North West.’
The boy, who was born in Cardiff to Rwandan parents, is from the village of Banks, just outside Southport.
Sarah Hammond, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS Mersey-Cheshire, said: ‘We remind all concerned that criminal proceedings against the defendant are active and that he has the right to a fair trial.
‘It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary, or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.’
False claims online that the suspect was an asylum seeker who had arrived in the UK by boat had sparked riots across Southport on Tuesday night, despite pleas from one of the victim’s mother’s for calm.
Thousands of people turned out to pay their respects to the victims at a vigil in Southport, but violence later erupted outside a mosque in the town with 53 police officers and three police dogs injured. Five men have been arrested following that incident.
After rioting broke out, Elsie’s mother, Jenni Stancombe, wrote on Facebook: ‘This is the only thing that I will write, but please please stop the violence in Southport tonight.
‘The police have been nothing but heroic these last 24 hours and they and we don’t need this.’
Sir Keir Starmer said rioters had ‘hijacked’ a vigil for victims and will ‘feel the full force of the law’, while Home Secretary Yvette Cooper described the rioting as ‘violent attacks from thugs on the streets’, which she branded ‘appalling’.
The Prime Minister is set to face questions this afternoon after crisis talks with police over the outbreak of rioting following the Southport knife attack.
On Wednesday, a clean up operation took place outside the mosque, with residents coming together to clear roads where fires had been set and rebuild walls which had been knocked down.
Police called in support from neighbouring forces in case of further disorder, but the seaside town appeared to remain quiet on Wednesday evening, however unrest developed in other areas of the country.
More than 100 people were arrested in London after crowds gathered in Whitehall turned on police, throwing bottles and cans at officers in riot gear.
The Southport mass stabbings have led to riots on the streets. Pictured: A police van is torched in Southport on Tuesday night
Southport burns: A street near a mosque goes up in flames as violent thugs took to the streets on Tuesday night
Police chiefs arrive to meet Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer to discuss clashes following the Southport stabbing
The riots came barely an hour after thousands of mourners gathered for a vigil at the Atkinson in Southport
Mourners leave floral tributes near the scene in Hart Street, where three children died and eight were injured in a ‘ferocious’ knife attack
Some were heard shouting the name of English Defence League founder Tommy Robinson, while others shouted ‘Rule Britannia’, ‘save our kids’ and ‘stop the boats’ and chanting ‘you’re not English any more’.
A Met Police spokesman said: ‘Over 100 people have been arrested for offences including violent disorder, assault on an emergency worker, and breach of protest conditions. Some officers suffered minor injuries.’
Responding to last nights riots, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: ‘The scenes of disorder and violence yesterday evening were completely unacceptable.
‘There is no place for criminality on our streets and I fully support the Met Police taking action against those intent on violence, causing disorder and spreading division in our city.’
In Hartlepool, County Durham four people were arrested after violent protests broke out, with people detained for various offences after missiles, glass bottles and eggs were thrown at officers.
A police car was also set on fire before protesters posed for selfies with it.
Chief Superintendent David Sutherland said: ‘At this stage we believe the protest is in connection with the incident in Southport earlier this week.
‘Our officers are facing missiles, glass bottles and eggs being thrown at them and have made arrests as they remain in the area to protect the safety of those living in the community.’
