Court records or news reports on any appeal or modification of the sentence

Southport Killer Rudakubana Sentenced to Minimum 52 Years for Murders at Taylor Swift Dance Class

Jan 23, 2025, 04:26 PM

An 18-year-old man, Axel Rudakubana, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 52 years for the murder of three young girls at a dance class in Southport last year. Rudakubana pleaded guilty to the murders of six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe, and nine-year-old Alice da Silva Aguiar, as well as the attempted murder of ten others during the attack on July 29, 2024. The incident occurred at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class, where Rudakubana launched a knife attack and attempted to decapitate one of the victims. Prior to the sentencing at Liverpool Crown Court, he was taken to hospital and initially refused to enter the court. During the hearing, he showed no remorse, reportedly telling police after his arrest, "It's a good thing those children are dead. I'm so glad. I'm so happy." The judge, Mr Justice Goose, noted that had he been 18 at the time of the attack—he was nine days short of his 18th birthday—a whole-life order would have been imposed, and expressed doubt that Rudakubana would ever be released.