Southport killer Axel Rudakubana is being sentenced today
Good morning. I’m Robyn Vinter, the Guardian’s north of England correspondent, in court for the sentencing of 18-year-old Axel Rudakubana, who has pleaded guilty to the murders of three children, Alice da Silva Aguiar, Bebe King and Elsie Dot Stancombe, in Southport on 29 July 2024.
Rudakubana unexpectedly pleaded guilty to all charges on Monday, the day his trial at Liverpool crown court was due to begin.
The jury had not yet been sworn in when the teenager changed his plea to guilty for all 16 counts on the indictment: three counts of murder, 10 of attempted murder, possession of a knife, producing the poison ricin and possession of a terrorist manual.
The trial had been expected to last at least two weeks and the court was due to hear from the victims and witnesses of the attack, including the teachers at the Taylor Swift-themed dance class where the murders occurred, police officers who responded to the unfolding tragedy and paramedics who tended to the injured and dying children.
Pathologists, computer experts and a chemist had also been scheduled to give expert evidence.
More background here, as reported by my colleague, the north of England editor, Josh Halliday on Monday:
“,”elementId”:”9b31f2e1-a722-48b8-987c-ae1c34a722bb”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
He will be given what is known as a “life sentence”, which will have a minimum term order. The terminology is a little confusing – this does not automatically mean he will die in prison.
“,”elementId”:”ec6e8580-2e6a-4ce1-a492-6982025556ec”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
An offender who has committed multiple murders and also has a terror charge might normally receive a “whole life order”, which means they would never get out of prison. But Rudakubana is not eligible as he was below the age of 18 at the time of the attack.
“,”elementId”:”0bdd58d2-ec4b-4174-a0df-adc7dde5636a”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
When considering the sentence, the judge will have a starting point and take into consideration aggravating and mitigating factors. In this case, the degree of planning Rudakubana put into the crime and the fact he targeted children would be aggravating factors. We will hear from Rudakubana’s barrister today on the mitigating factors, though there may be few. His guilty plea before the trial will be taken into account, as offenders receive a reduced sentence for pleading guilty – the earlier they plead, the bigger reduction in their sentence.
“,”elementId”:”0ae767c7-2442-4508-ac7f-56059a0b7672″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1737627773000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”05.22 EST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1737629194000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”05.46 EST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1737629018000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”05.43 EST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”05.43″,”title”:”Axel Rudakubana expected to receive substantial sentence”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 23 Jan 2025 05.50 EST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Thu 23 Jan 2025 05.03 EST”},{“id”:”678e76b58f08dc4794c4ad26″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Three young girls were killed during Rudakubana’s murderous rampage on 29 July.
“,”elementId”:”df2a1242-338e-4c8c-97ed-fae663081255″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.SubheadingBlockElement”,”html”:”
Elsie Dot Stancombe
“,”elementId”:”2951cbfc-0018-490f-801c-32026be8791c”},{“displayCredit”:true,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement”,”role”:”inline”,”media”:{“allImages”:[{“index”:0,”fields”:{“height”:”1200″,”width”:”960″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/1dcce985a1789d75399bd656d3a3ef440db88011/0_0_960_1200/960.jpg”},{“index”:1,”fields”:{“isMaster”:”true”,”height”:”1200″,”width”:”960″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/1dcce985a1789d75399bd656d3a3ef440db88011/0_0_960_1200/master/960.jpg”},{“index”:2,”fields”:{“height”:”1000″,”width”:”800″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/1dcce985a1789d75399bd656d3a3ef440db88011/0_0_960_1200/800.jpg”},{“index”:3,”fields”:{“height”:”500″,”width”:”400″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/1dcce985a1789d75399bd656d3a3ef440db88011/0_0_960_1200/400.jpg”}]},”elementId”:”71d60afc-06c7-411d-ba04-c92dd8eb978a”,”imageSources”:[{“weighting”:”inline”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1dcce985a1789d75399bd656d3a3ef440db88011/0_0_960_1200/master/960.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=42e2b71f16d60bdf28a33d2e3673afd0″,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1dcce985a1789d75399bd656d3a3ef440db88011/0_0_960_1200/master/960.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=4784836f7c7b27231c67a623e3e76387″,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1dcce985a1789d75399bd656d3a3ef440db88011/0_0_960_1200/master/960.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=6730dab33fd317f4d91a1599d2c7c692″,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1dcce985a1789d75399bd656d3a3ef440db88011/0_0_960_1200/master/960.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=7ed46795f224e0a3c5ebb0511a57612d”,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1dcce985a1789d75399bd656d3a3ef440db88011/0_0_960_1200/master/960.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=e62d28eb5e278031b454827119e8cd0d”,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1dcce985a1789d75399bd656d3a3ef440db88011/0_0_960_1200/master/960.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=396e03b032cd3edafc639dd2c4cb88b5″,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”thumbnail”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1dcce985a1789d75399bd656d3a3ef440db88011/0_0_960_1200/master/960.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=d7a49e05ce274b2f0cee9505c8198053″,”width”:140},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1dcce985a1789d75399bd656d3a3ef440db88011/0_0_960_1200/master/960.jpg?width=140&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=7084bb08e521d067d233e99008dc1435″,”width”:280},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1dcce985a1789d75399bd656d3a3ef440db88011/0_0_960_1200/master/960.jpg?width=120&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=b0c092a0e7ef29e5a0464b816058caba”,”width”:120},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1dcce985a1789d75399bd656d3a3ef440db88011/0_0_960_1200/master/960.jpg?width=120&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=7f76f6e56a582329ec9b9616d68cae6d”,”width”:240}]},{“weighting”:”supporting”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1dcce985a1789d75399bd656d3a3ef440db88011/0_0_960_1200/master/960.jpg?width=380&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=3ebbb0f0d06c29dfcf82c7aee987e639″,”width”:380},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1dcce985a1789d75399bd656d3a3ef440db88011/0_0_960_1200/master/960.jpg?width=380&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=df17f30a33f9d2a0850210460ac22660″,”width”:760},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1dcce985a1789d75399bd656d3a3ef440db88011/0_0_960_1200/master/960.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=8558bdc51181d7eed5772537820f1ff3″,”width”:300},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1dcce985a1789d75399bd656d3a3ef440db88011/0_0_960_1200/master/960.jpg?width=300&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=6df8b22379f22d2057482f5d826e84ad”,”width”:600},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1dcce985a1789d75399bd656d3a3ef440db88011/0_0_960_1200/master/960.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=42e2b71f16d60bdf28a33d2e3673afd0″,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1dcce985a1789d75399bd656d3a3ef440db88011/0_0_960_1200/master/960.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=4784836f7c7b27231c67a623e3e76387″,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1dcce985a1789d75399bd656d3a3ef440db88011/0_0_960_1200/master/960.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=6730dab33fd317f4d91a1599d2c7c692″,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1dcce985a1789d75399bd656d3a3ef440db88011/0_0_960_1200/master/960.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=7ed46795f224e0a3c5ebb0511a57612d”,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1dcce985a1789d75399bd656d3a3ef440db88011/0_0_960_1200/master/960.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=e62d28eb5e278031b454827119e8cd0d”,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1dcce985a1789d75399bd656d3a3ef440db88011/0_0_960_1200/master/960.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=396e03b032cd3edafc639dd2c4cb88b5″,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”showcase”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1dcce985a1789d75399bd656d3a3ef440db88011/0_0_960_1200/master/960.jpg?width=860&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=c4a5ce09928aef968b161d9c5475b575″,”width”:860},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1dcce985a1789d75399bd656d3a3ef440db88011/0_0_960_1200/master/960.jpg?width=860&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=ceb95e13408ec5e084244f0d2ff561fa”,”width”:1720},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1dcce985a1789d75399bd656d3a3ef440db88011/0_0_960_1200/master/960.jpg?width=780&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=f60493713af5e40c63a6f70972939748″,”width”:780},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1dcce985a1789d75399bd656d3a3ef440db88011/0_0_960_1200/master/960.jpg?width=780&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=b04296940910de890fae2beeb89e764e”,”width”:1560},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1dcce985a1789d75399bd656d3a3ef440db88011/0_0_960_1200/master/960.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=42e2b71f16d60bdf28a33d2e3673afd0″,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1dcce985a1789d75399bd656d3a3ef440db88011/0_0_960_1200/master/960.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=4784836f7c7b27231c67a623e3e76387″,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1dcce985a1789d75399bd656d3a3ef440db88011/0_0_960_1200/master/960.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=6730dab33fd317f4d91a1599d2c7c692″,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1dcce985a1789d75399bd656d3a3ef440db88011/0_0_960_1200/master/960.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=7ed46795f224e0a3c5ebb0511a57612d”,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1dcce985a1789d75399bd656d3a3ef440db88011/0_0_960_1200/master/960.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=e62d28eb5e278031b454827119e8cd0d”,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1dcce985a1789d75399bd656d3a3ef440db88011/0_0_960_1200/master/960.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=396e03b032cd3edafc639dd2c4cb88b5″,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”halfwidth”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1dcce985a1789d75399bd656d3a3ef440db88011/0_0_960_1200/master/960.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=42e2b71f16d60bdf28a33d2e3673afd0″,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1dcce985a1789d75399bd656d3a3ef440db88011/0_0_960_1200/master/960.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=4784836f7c7b27231c67a623e3e76387″,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1dcce985a1789d75399bd656d3a3ef440db88011/0_0_960_1200/master/960.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=6730dab33fd317f4d91a1599d2c7c692″,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1dcce985a1789d75399bd656d3a3ef440db88011/0_0_960_1200/master/960.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=7ed46795f224e0a3c5ebb0511a57612d”,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1dcce985a1789d75399bd656d3a3ef440db88011/0_0_960_1200/master/960.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=e62d28eb5e278031b454827119e8cd0d”,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1dcce985a1789d75399bd656d3a3ef440db88011/0_0_960_1200/master/960.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=396e03b032cd3edafc639dd2c4cb88b5″,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”immersive”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1dcce985a1789d75399bd656d3a3ef440db88011/0_0_960_1200/master/960.jpg?width=1900&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=1727b66450453c7a00b122862028b6c7″,”width”:1900},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1dcce985a1789d75399bd656d3a3ef440db88011/0_0_960_1200/master/960.jpg?width=1900&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=0850bb3afa657a7caf96ca9105bc5dcd”,”width”:3800},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1dcce985a1789d75399bd656d3a3ef440db88011/0_0_960_1200/master/960.jpg?width=1300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=ad35af8772458fa545b838c728ccb295″,”width”:1300},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1dcce985a1789d75399bd656d3a3ef440db88011/0_0_960_1200/master/960.jpg?width=1300&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=45ee6308e2f7be414cb9edfb045b05e9″,”width”:2600},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1dcce985a1789d75399bd656d3a3ef440db88011/0_0_960_1200/master/960.jpg?width=1140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=809efcd72fab1a90d3619bc008511ea0″,”width”:1140},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1dcce985a1789d75399bd656d3a3ef440db88011/0_0_960_1200/master/960.jpg?width=1140&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=801f2e5813a28e290567e02ac0fe737a”,”width”:2280},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1dcce985a1789d75399bd656d3a3ef440db88011/0_0_960_1200/master/960.jpg?width=980&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=11f11726e8ec28dd1279902cbd1d28ca”,”width”:980},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1dcce985a1789d75399bd656d3a3ef440db88011/0_0_960_1200/master/960.jpg?width=980&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=32a82460f658e2c076d12d26b8d1a9f2″,”width”:1960},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1dcce985a1789d75399bd656d3a3ef440db88011/0_0_960_1200/master/960.jpg?width=740&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=dfd6b0040843e2929e045e39deb71716″,”width”:740},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1dcce985a1789d75399bd656d3a3ef440db88011/0_0_960_1200/master/960.jpg?width=740&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=f20f1e4105fa7ebd77e278c62370a6df”,”width”:1480},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1dcce985a1789d75399bd656d3a3ef440db88011/0_0_960_1200/master/960.jpg?width=660&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=49483e2937e594939f457370114c1a22″,”width”:660},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1dcce985a1789d75399bd656d3a3ef440db88011/0_0_960_1200/master/960.jpg?width=660&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=0365bcb44008f80c2f67dac838923886″,”width”:1320},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1dcce985a1789d75399bd656d3a3ef440db88011/0_0_960_1200/master/960.jpg?width=480&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=b12e1111f3bda595eeb8013306a4de29″,”width”:480},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1dcce985a1789d75399bd656d3a3ef440db88011/0_0_960_1200/master/960.jpg?width=480&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=616cf1533f2a28186734d3de64569b22″,”width”:960}]}],”data”:{“alt”:”Elsie Dot Stancombe was a “devoted Swiftie”.”,”caption”:”Elsie Dot Stancombe was a “devoted Swiftie”.”,”credit”:”Photograph: Merseyside Police/PA”}},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Aged seven, Elsie was described by her family as a “devoted Swiftie” who “brought light, love and joy to so many lives”. She went to Farnborough Road Infant School and was a member of a cheerleading group called Vortex Cheer, who formed a guard of honour during her funeral.
“,”elementId”:”bb3dbf00-33db-46cf-81bf-6f5ec7450ddc”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Elsie’s great-aunt described her as “lovely, sweet and gentle”, the BBC reported. Jean Stevenson said her grand-niece was “absolutely the sweetest child you could ever wish to meet”.
“,”elementId”:”eda337c7-b556-464f-b708-3d25eac1f85d”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.SubheadingBlockElement”,”html”:”
Bebe King
“,”elementId”:”64ebb125-091d-4cf3-bfe4-61432c6c60d8″},{“displayCredit”:true,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement”,”role”:”inline”,”media”:{“allImages”:[{“index”:0,”fields”:{“height”:”1018″,”width”:”787″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/db844f0fbe936ce593beee6750aaab8d11a4c1c4/234_54_787_1018/787.jpg”},{“index”:1,”fields”:{“isMaster”:”true”,”height”:”1018″,”width”:”787″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/db844f0fbe936ce593beee6750aaab8d11a4c1c4/234_54_787_1018/master/787.jpg”},{“index”:2,”fields”:{“height”:”1000″,”width”:”773″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/db844f0fbe936ce593beee6750aaab8d11a4c1c4/234_54_787_1018/773.jpg”},{“index”:3,”fields”:{“height”:”500″,”width”:”387″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/db844f0fbe936ce593beee6750aaab8d11a4c1c4/234_54_787_1018/387.jpg”}]},”elementId”:”8df8df83-5a7e-43a7-b81c-7ff8ff955dd4″,”imageSources”:[{“weighting”:”inline”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/db844f0fbe936ce593beee6750aaab8d11a4c1c4/234_54_787_1018/master/787.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=c109965ce8457d9c2aaa80eb95a0e0b5″,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/db844f0fbe936ce593beee6750aaab8d11a4c1c4/234_54_787_1018/master/787.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=77d1c7cc9e284f68cc83ecfac7ede337″,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/db844f0fbe936ce593beee6750aaab8d11a4c1c4/234_54_787_1018/master/787.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=5a8249f4315788fcd6e2d06c4d6391fc”,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/db844f0fbe936ce593beee6750aaab8d11a4c1c4/234_54_787_1018/master/787.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=43f222e7c631508bbd2547d59ccf2b19″,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/db844f0fbe936ce593beee6750aaab8d11a4c1c4/234_54_787_1018/master/787.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=2b9a82ee7bfe44a86da49de54fdab6c0″,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/db844f0fbe936ce593beee6750aaab8d11a4c1c4/234_54_787_1018/master/787.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=914321b0b8f669a6dce7574ae3395c8d”,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”thumbnail”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/db844f0fbe936ce593beee6750aaab8d11a4c1c4/234_54_787_1018/master/787.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=54dd5d399fbd9f783f6c95418b30fd06″,”width”:140},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/db844f0fbe936ce593beee6750aaab8d11a4c1c4/234_54_787_1018/master/787.jpg?width=140&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=dd92ad44307962ffee906bfb04e21cd1″,”width”:280},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/db844f0fbe936ce593beee6750aaab8d11a4c1c4/234_54_787_1018/master/787.jpg?width=120&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=58c357cf5cad5410f4f57593a9721571″,”width”:120},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/db844f0fbe936ce593beee6750aaab8d11a4c1c4/234_54_787_1018/master/787.jpg?width=120&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=27d8a89f784c5c17fc61c410fe65c542″,”width”:240}]},{“weighting”:”supporting”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/db844f0fbe936ce593beee6750aaab8d11a4c1c4/234_54_787_1018/master/787.jpg?width=380&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=88738cda89d1e9f15e06a9ceb257b550″,”width”:380},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/db844f0fbe936ce593beee6750aaab8d11a4c1c4/234_54_787_1018/master/787.jpg?width=380&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=d0091a05e89180e43db0bf626f50d5f9″,”width”:760},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/db844f0fbe936ce593beee6750aaab8d11a4c1c4/234_54_787_1018/master/787.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=2442f8ab6db50928bf5c1e55196f3875″,”width”:300},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/db844f0fbe936ce593beee6750aaab8d11a4c1c4/234_54_787_1018/master/787.jpg?width=300&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=960b8c8e102e576b73e8485979d69118″,”width”:600},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/db844f0fbe936ce593beee6750aaab8d11a4c1c4/234_54_787_1018/master/787.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=c109965ce8457d9c2aaa80eb95a0e0b5″,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/db844f0fbe936ce593beee6750aaab8d11a4c1c4/234_54_787_1018/master/787.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=77d1c7cc9e284f68cc83ecfac7ede337″,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/db844f0fbe936ce593beee6750aaab8d11a4c1c4/234_54_787_1018/master/787.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=5a8249f4315788fcd6e2d06c4d6391fc”,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/db844f0fbe936ce593beee6750aaab8d11a4c1c4/234_54_787_1018/master/787.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=43f222e7c631508bbd2547d59ccf2b19″,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/db844f0fbe936ce593beee6750aaab8d11a4c1c4/234_54_787_1018/master/787.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=2b9a82ee7bfe44a86da49de54fdab6c0″,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/db844f0fbe936ce593beee6750aaab8d11a4c1c4/234_54_787_1018/master/787.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=914321b0b8f669a6dce7574ae3395c8d”,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”showcase”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/db844f0fbe936ce593beee6750aaab8d11a4c1c4/234_54_787_1018/master/787.jpg?width=860&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=f51eb38f8ef8c1e665114a249ebcf1ee”,”width”:860},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/db844f0fbe936ce593beee6750aaab8d11a4c1c4/234_54_787_1018/master/787.jpg?width=860&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=f2b74504064c610fd86a2636c6e27b69″,”width”:1720},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/db844f0fbe936ce593beee6750aaab8d11a4c1c4/234_54_787_1018/master/787.jpg?width=780&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=df0cb6bf5ae7656d90a2617ab2f914da”,”width”:780},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/db844f0fbe936ce593beee6750aaab8d11a4c1c4/234_54_787_1018/master/787.jpg?width=780&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=f28731859c5881cb395300bbf0e921c3″,”width”:1560},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/db844f0fbe936ce593beee6750aaab8d11a4c1c4/234_54_787_1018/master/787.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=c109965ce8457d9c2aaa80eb95a0e0b5″,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/db844f0fbe936ce593beee6750aaab8d11a4c1c4/234_54_787_1018/master/787.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=77d1c7cc9e284f68cc83ecfac7ede337″,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/db844f0fbe936ce593beee6750aaab8d11a4c1c4/234_54_787_1018/master/787.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=5a8249f4315788fcd6e2d06c4d6391fc”,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/db844f0fbe936ce593beee6750aaab8d11a4c1c4/234_54_787_1018/master/787.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=43f222e7c631508bbd2547d59ccf2b19″,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/db844f0fbe936ce593beee6750aaab8d11a4c1c4/234_54_787_1018/master/787.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=2b9a82ee7bfe44a86da49de54fdab6c0″,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/db844f0fbe936ce593beee6750aaab8d11a4c1c4/234_54_787_1018/master/787.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=914321b0b8f669a6dce7574ae3395c8d”,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”halfwidth”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/db844f0fbe936ce593beee6750aaab8d11a4c1c4/234_54_787_1018/master/787.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=c109965ce8457d9c2aaa80eb95a0e0b5″,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/db844f0fbe936ce593beee6750aaab8d11a4c1c4/234_54_787_1018/master/787.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=77d1c7cc9e284f68cc83ecfac7ede337″,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/db844f0fbe936ce593beee6750aaab8d11a4c1c4/234_54_787_1018/master/787.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=5a8249f4315788fcd6e2d06c4d6391fc”,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/db844f0fbe936ce593beee6750aaab8d11a4c1c4/234_54_787_1018/master/787.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=43f222e7c631508bbd2547d59ccf2b19″,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/db844f0fbe936ce593beee6750aaab8d11a4c1c4/234_54_787_1018/master/787.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=2b9a82ee7bfe44a86da49de54fdab6c0″,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/db844f0fbe936ce593beee6750aaab8d11a4c1c4/234_54_787_1018/master/787.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=914321b0b8f669a6dce7574ae3395c8d”,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”immersive”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/db844f0fbe936ce593beee6750aaab8d11a4c1c4/234_54_787_1018/master/787.jpg?width=1900&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=6e0d894023179227cd883373767e3397″,”width”:1900},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/db844f0fbe936ce593beee6750aaab8d11a4c1c4/234_54_787_1018/master/787.jpg?width=1900&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=1ccae0e4170c4b16a92910135b017d33″,”width”:3800},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/db844f0fbe936ce593beee6750aaab8d11a4c1c4/234_54_787_1018/master/787.jpg?width=1300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=e2a9f7610c1b9ea024616b0fafa27fc9″,”width”:1300},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/db844f0fbe936ce593beee6750aaab8d11a4c1c4/234_54_787_1018/master/787.jpg?width=1300&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=c83bffa496c956a0c2b1fe892a925e40″,”width”:2600},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/db844f0fbe936ce593beee6750aaab8d11a4c1c4/234_54_787_1018/master/787.jpg?width=1140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=f97a0ca800b8dd41cbec6e1544657d73″,”width”:1140},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/db844f0fbe936ce593beee6750aaab8d11a4c1c4/234_54_787_1018/master/787.jpg?width=1140&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=200dcadcc533b94170781aa224eca187″,”width”:2280},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/db844f0fbe936ce593beee6750aaab8d11a4c1c4/234_54_787_1018/master/787.jpg?width=980&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=b8f5dc0d677bdfcf31a5708a222e2a43″,”width”:980},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/db844f0fbe936ce593beee6750aaab8d11a4c1c4/234_54_787_1018/master/787.jpg?width=980&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=0e010153b985b69dac9b371de34de8a4″,”width”:1960},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/db844f0fbe936ce593beee6750aaab8d11a4c1c4/234_54_787_1018/master/787.jpg?width=740&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=66743b9e9251e4ae311317413e973d19″,”width”:740},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/db844f0fbe936ce593beee6750aaab8d11a4c1c4/234_54_787_1018/master/787.jpg?width=740&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=73bec012a813e816322f9f6f276783a3″,”width”:1480},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/db844f0fbe936ce593beee6750aaab8d11a4c1c4/234_54_787_1018/master/787.jpg?width=660&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=763372d8773aeb15c618428703c6d697″,”width”:660},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/db844f0fbe936ce593beee6750aaab8d11a4c1c4/234_54_787_1018/master/787.jpg?width=660&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=f48ac4b15528506166474862161b1c7b”,”width”:1320},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/db844f0fbe936ce593beee6750aaab8d11a4c1c4/234_54_787_1018/master/787.jpg?width=480&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=01f49dc79e793eaad6886ae9f8c8106c”,”width”:480},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/db844f0fbe936ce593beee6750aaab8d11a4c1c4/234_54_787_1018/master/787.jpg?width=480&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=da1a2c99bfc1721dc8e9b666fb46d677″,”width”:960}]}],”data”:{“alt”:”Bebe King loved music and theatre.”,”caption”:”Bebe King loved music and theatre.”,”credit”:”Photograph: Merseyside Police/PA”}},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
The youngest of the victims, “shimmering star” Bebe was just six years old when she was murdered by Axel Rudakubana.
“,”elementId”:”97f5025c-f496-4b4d-9745-2cafafb87eef”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
In a statement after her death, her parents Lauren and Ben King said she “was full of joy, light, and love, and she will always remain in our hearts as the sweet, kind, and spirited girl we adore”.
“,”elementId”:”69e3a7c9-aa62-4e9a-bc22-c5a85a384bf2″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
She was from a close-knit family, her grandfather, Michael Weston King, wrote in a social media post.
“,”elementId”:”e5954096-7629-4396-8077-cf30a2ec28ae”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
“Bebe was such a sweet, happy little thing. Loving life, in particular music and theatre, and enjoying the deep affection in which she was held by her family and friends,” he wrote.
“,”elementId”:”5723d077-66ab-4f56-9859-573c69742193″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.SubheadingBlockElement”,”html”:”
Alice da Silva Aguiar
“,”elementId”:”cfceb7a3-722b-4b53-9bf8-d5f6cf0a96ac”},{“displayCredit”:true,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement”,”role”:”inline”,”media”:{“allImages”:[{“index”:0,”fields”:{“height”:”1262″,”width”:”1010″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/3ef26da888b325179509aa6c5582f4a92d8d8f5e/0_64_1010_1262/1010.jpg”},{“index”:1,”fields”:{“isMaster”:”true”,”height”:”1262″,”width”:”1010″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/3ef26da888b325179509aa6c5582f4a92d8d8f5e/0_64_1010_1262/master/1010.jpg”},{“index”:2,”fields”:{“height”:”1000″,”width”:”800″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/3ef26da888b325179509aa6c5582f4a92d8d8f5e/0_64_1010_1262/800.jpg”},{“index”:3,”fields”:{“height”:”500″,”width”:”400″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/3ef26da888b325179509aa6c5582f4a92d8d8f5e/0_64_1010_1262/400.jpg”}]},”elementId”:”50cbafb8-3847-4385-be17-231500c6894a”,”imageSources”:[{“weighting”:”inline”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3ef26da888b325179509aa6c5582f4a92d8d8f5e/0_64_1010_1262/master/1010.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=7c7e9b6c6a0c2e0fed9c62b7ae2bc623″,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3ef26da888b325179509aa6c5582f4a92d8d8f5e/0_64_1010_1262/master/1010.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=4640bf37de03b269d0be6f107e177d89″,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3ef26da888b325179509aa6c5582f4a92d8d8f5e/0_64_1010_1262/master/1010.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=3d0a1c11f86a364323c0d2dc4cee6165″,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3ef26da888b325179509aa6c5582f4a92d8d8f5e/0_64_1010_1262/master/1010.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=82583c6e3355ac94ebbd34e030430031″,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3ef26da888b325179509aa6c5582f4a92d8d8f5e/0_64_1010_1262/master/1010.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=62ba67abcd43324dffba542ccd4417bf”,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3ef26da888b325179509aa6c5582f4a92d8d8f5e/0_64_1010_1262/master/1010.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=c577bb085ff0ede69dbdc85182b0151b”,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”thumbnail”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3ef26da888b325179509aa6c5582f4a92d8d8f5e/0_64_1010_1262/master/1010.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=697580d0fea18dd09fbbdf9a84fd9980″,”width”:140},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3ef26da888b325179509aa6c5582f4a92d8d8f5e/0_64_1010_1262/master/1010.jpg?width=140&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=549b5840eab77e45105d401a28415d21″,”width”:280},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3ef26da888b325179509aa6c5582f4a92d8d8f5e/0_64_1010_1262/master/1010.jpg?width=120&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=a092d362957b0801ea992d16277fcfd7″,”width”:120},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3ef26da888b325179509aa6c5582f4a92d8d8f5e/0_64_1010_1262/master/1010.jpg?width=120&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=92db632a2292a12bfe19f8f7c04e6771″,”width”:240}]},{“weighting”:”supporting”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3ef26da888b325179509aa6c5582f4a92d8d8f5e/0_64_1010_1262/master/1010.jpg?width=380&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=51d70dc414ab5c7d3cc5c4163ced8a85″,”width”:380},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3ef26da888b325179509aa6c5582f4a92d8d8f5e/0_64_1010_1262/master/1010.jpg?width=380&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=9b8b997438c397ddbcadf9df4f696421″,”width”:760},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3ef26da888b325179509aa6c5582f4a92d8d8f5e/0_64_1010_1262/master/1010.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=abef358890fbb0eb4795fd5e682c7556″,”width”:300},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3ef26da888b325179509aa6c5582f4a92d8d8f5e/0_64_1010_1262/master/1010.jpg?width=300&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=03bc93f641f512a0bc9e321063866b67″,”width”:600},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3ef26da888b325179509aa6c5582f4a92d8d8f5e/0_64_1010_1262/master/1010.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=7c7e9b6c6a0c2e0fed9c62b7ae2bc623″,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3ef26da888b325179509aa6c5582f4a92d8d8f5e/0_64_1010_1262/master/1010.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=4640bf37de03b269d0be6f107e177d89″,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3ef26da888b325179509aa6c5582f4a92d8d8f5e/0_64_1010_1262/master/1010.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=3d0a1c11f86a364323c0d2dc4cee6165″,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3ef26da888b325179509aa6c5582f4a92d8d8f5e/0_64_1010_1262/master/1010.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=82583c6e3355ac94ebbd34e030430031″,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3ef26da888b325179509aa6c5582f4a92d8d8f5e/0_64_1010_1262/master/1010.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=62ba67abcd43324dffba542ccd4417bf”,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3ef26da888b325179509aa6c5582f4a92d8d8f5e/0_64_1010_1262/master/1010.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=c577bb085ff0ede69dbdc85182b0151b”,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”showcase”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3ef26da888b325179509aa6c5582f4a92d8d8f5e/0_64_1010_1262/master/1010.jpg?width=860&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=6e03eb2a42bc46cc551b3cdce861feef”,”width”:860},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3ef26da888b325179509aa6c5582f4a92d8d8f5e/0_64_1010_1262/master/1010.jpg?width=860&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=9ed0a23fc272ea36776ea986a9f26dbd”,”width”:1720},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3ef26da888b325179509aa6c5582f4a92d8d8f5e/0_64_1010_1262/master/1010.jpg?width=780&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=6094f7d5db87aad212ff6569816bf8ea”,”width”:780},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3ef26da888b325179509aa6c5582f4a92d8d8f5e/0_64_1010_1262/master/1010.jpg?width=780&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=cb7178f48253e462d54af450b934eafd”,”width”:1560},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3ef26da888b325179509aa6c5582f4a92d8d8f5e/0_64_1010_1262/master/1010.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=7c7e9b6c6a0c2e0fed9c62b7ae2bc623″,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3ef26da888b325179509aa6c5582f4a92d8d8f5e/0_64_1010_1262/master/1010.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=4640bf37de03b269d0be6f107e177d89″,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3ef26da888b325179509aa6c5582f4a92d8d8f5e/0_64_1010_1262/master/1010.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=3d0a1c11f86a364323c0d2dc4cee6165″,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3ef26da888b325179509aa6c5582f4a92d8d8f5e/0_64_1010_1262/master/1010.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=82583c6e3355ac94ebbd34e030430031″,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3ef26da888b325179509aa6c5582f4a92d8d8f5e/0_64_1010_1262/master/1010.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=62ba67abcd43324dffba542ccd4417bf”,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3ef26da888b325179509aa6c5582f4a92d8d8f5e/0_64_1010_1262/master/1010.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=c577bb085ff0ede69dbdc85182b0151b”,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”halfwidth”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3ef26da888b325179509aa6c5582f4a92d8d8f5e/0_64_1010_1262/master/1010.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=7c7e9b6c6a0c2e0fed9c62b7ae2bc623″,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3ef26da888b325179509aa6c5582f4a92d8d8f5e/0_64_1010_1262/master/1010.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=4640bf37de03b269d0be6f107e177d89″,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3ef26da888b325179509aa6c5582f4a92d8d8f5e/0_64_1010_1262/master/1010.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=3d0a1c11f86a364323c0d2dc4cee6165″,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3ef26da888b325179509aa6c5582f4a92d8d8f5e/0_64_1010_1262/master/1010.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=82583c6e3355ac94ebbd34e030430031″,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3ef26da888b325179509aa6c5582f4a92d8d8f5e/0_64_1010_1262/master/1010.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=62ba67abcd43324dffba542ccd4417bf”,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3ef26da888b325179509aa6c5582f4a92d8d8f5e/0_64_1010_1262/master/1010.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=c577bb085ff0ede69dbdc85182b0151b”,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”immersive”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3ef26da888b325179509aa6c5582f4a92d8d8f5e/0_64_1010_1262/master/1010.jpg?width=1900&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=037bbb2f959ce9ad115e9c360896dd5a”,”width”:1900},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3ef26da888b325179509aa6c5582f4a92d8d8f5e/0_64_1010_1262/master/1010.jpg?width=1900&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=2877c71760a7a8267425998d786c5e46″,”width”:3800},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3ef26da888b325179509aa6c5582f4a92d8d8f5e/0_64_1010_1262/master/1010.jpg?width=1300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=08090e5f2f11789226cc921bf70a3f17″,”width”:1300},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3ef26da888b325179509aa6c5582f4a92d8d8f5e/0_64_1010_1262/master/1010.jpg?width=1300&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=252107db4e2502074824d5ca07b98128″,”width”:2600},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3ef26da888b325179509aa6c5582f4a92d8d8f5e/0_64_1010_1262/master/1010.jpg?width=1140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=94b158139609810e2321f760024dafa6″,”width”:1140},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3ef26da888b325179509aa6c5582f4a92d8d8f5e/0_64_1010_1262/master/1010.jpg?width=1140&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=e8f3fede829ba26407c4983e49c83a99″,”width”:2280},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3ef26da888b325179509aa6c5582f4a92d8d8f5e/0_64_1010_1262/master/1010.jpg?width=980&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=ea53b780d3f3cb0fee2ab7aa91b96490″,”width”:980},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3ef26da888b325179509aa6c5582f4a92d8d8f5e/0_64_1010_1262/master/1010.jpg?width=980&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=a38830b001146c8cde2081ae9719026c”,”width”:1960},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3ef26da888b325179509aa6c5582f4a92d8d8f5e/0_64_1010_1262/master/1010.jpg?width=740&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=4ab1f1c61b6e0d7dd32358313093ba03″,”width”:740},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3ef26da888b325179509aa6c5582f4a92d8d8f5e/0_64_1010_1262/master/1010.jpg?width=740&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=3a95d8a6b5499b103e17f8c12de078cd”,”width”:1480},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3ef26da888b325179509aa6c5582f4a92d8d8f5e/0_64_1010_1262/master/1010.jpg?width=660&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=97d89ca4f30373078e04ab8efc3ff5d7″,”width”:660},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3ef26da888b325179509aa6c5582f4a92d8d8f5e/0_64_1010_1262/master/1010.jpg?width=660&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=5d0ee01ec415da20a308b47d9facbd46″,”width”:1320},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3ef26da888b325179509aa6c5582f4a92d8d8f5e/0_64_1010_1262/master/1010.jpg?width=480&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=50a372269fa7c985eb3baef0f798c4a5″,”width”:480},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3ef26da888b325179509aa6c5582f4a92d8d8f5e/0_64_1010_1262/master/1010.jpg?width=480&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=da2b5728070d8aea6e6ff24f1ed34591″,”width”:960}]}],”data”:{“alt”:”The parents of Alice da Silva Aguiar said she had been excited to attend the Taylor Swift-themed dance class.”,”caption”:”The parents of Alice da Silva Aguiar said she had been excited to attend the Taylor Swift-themed dance class.”,”credit”:”Photograph: Merseyside Police/PA”}},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Nine-year-old Alice was the first child victim to be named, after she died in hospital the day after the attack.
“,”elementId”:”401103a5-4327-4e90-bf9e-f459ace85bea”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Described by her parents as a “princess”, she was in year 4 at Churchtown primary school, where her headteacher Jinnie Payne said: “Alice’s radiant smile brightened our days, and she embraced every aspect of school life with enthusiasm and joy.
“,”elementId”:”a027b28f-2972-455a-99c8-68a6706b0281″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
“Her kindness, playful nature, and zest for trying new things will forever be remembered.”
“,”elementId”:”c6e1afae-344d-4f65-b348-eb1f7bb968cf”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
In a statement read at her funeral, her Portuguese parents, Sergio and Alexandra, said she was the “perfect dream child” who loved animals and “moved our world” with her “confidence and empathy”. “Playful, energetic, friendly and always so respectful.”
“,”elementId”:”16e2231a-5d9b-498f-a3e7-eeb25a83ca8d”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1737626633000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”05.03 EST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1737628466000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”05.34 EST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1737628466000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”05.34 EST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”05.34″,”title”:”Who were the victims?”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 23 Jan 2025 05.50 EST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Thu 23 Jan 2025 05.03 EST”},{“id”:”678e63a08f08cc962d77515e”,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Axel Rudakubana was born in Cardiff to Rwandan parents and lived in the village of Banks, near Southport, when he carried out the attack at the age of 17.
“,”elementId”:”5be47ee5-40ff-4000-9f64-6ca0e3c9a3ac”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Detectives investigating the murders found he had developed a deep and dark interest in extreme violence, spending hours researching genocide and watching graphic videos of murder.
“,”elementId”:”abf74818-44e1-47dc-a962-28abe8692e4d”},{“displayCredit”:true,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement”,”role”:”inline”,”media”:{“allImages”:[{“index”:0,”fields”:{“height”:”711″,”width”:”1186″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/cb1b115e2b3fc40eb993b28c03404148015bed38/0_680_1186_711/1186.jpg”},{“index”:1,”fields”:{“isMaster”:”true”,”height”:”711″,”width”:”1186″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/cb1b115e2b3fc40eb993b28c03404148015bed38/0_680_1186_711/master/1186.jpg”},{“index”:2,”fields”:{“height”:”600″,”width”:”1000″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/cb1b115e2b3fc40eb993b28c03404148015bed38/0_680_1186_711/1000.jpg”},{“index”:3,”fields”:{“height”:”300″,”width”:”500″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/cb1b115e2b3fc40eb993b28c03404148015bed38/0_680_1186_711/500.jpg”},{“index”:4,”fields”:{“height”:”84″,”width”:”140″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/cb1b115e2b3fc40eb993b28c03404148015bed38/0_680_1186_711/140.jpg”}]},”elementId”:”79107539-49af-47b0-a0eb-d6cbb0389d1d”,”imageSources”:[{“weighting”:”inline”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cb1b115e2b3fc40eb993b28c03404148015bed38/0_680_1186_711/master/1186.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=b36410fd200c9005f176201d94aa3a97″,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cb1b115e2b3fc40eb993b28c03404148015bed38/0_680_1186_711/master/1186.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=6af6672fee47f8d2bf56c68cb7bfe96c”,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cb1b115e2b3fc40eb993b28c03404148015bed38/0_680_1186_711/master/1186.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=90c5b482fa54e7b1396940a61630d92b”,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cb1b115e2b3fc40eb993b28c03404148015bed38/0_680_1186_711/master/1186.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=6ff56d4bbbfd23d9a5c835e6581983bd”,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cb1b115e2b3fc40eb993b28c03404148015bed38/0_680_1186_711/master/1186.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=5ffef1c23d46cdf8015b6face27fb7d4″,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cb1b115e2b3fc40eb993b28c03404148015bed38/0_680_1186_711/master/1186.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=d6d4ca384b253966ef12b20bb91444d5″,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”thumbnail”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cb1b115e2b3fc40eb993b28c03404148015bed38/0_680_1186_711/master/1186.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=4e85e3f8ad352953a1c7c70b2de2b414″,”width”:140},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cb1b115e2b3fc40eb993b28c03404148015bed38/0_680_1186_711/master/1186.jpg?width=140&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=6ee12509b1b1d2b71a59286201cf1186″,”width”:280},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cb1b115e2b3fc40eb993b28c03404148015bed38/0_680_1186_711/master/1186.jpg?width=120&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=b7aa8c55c76600c5ab0301087481c49d”,”width”:120},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cb1b115e2b3fc40eb993b28c03404148015bed38/0_680_1186_711/master/1186.jpg?width=120&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=4bda945be6f5f456e1d583f8b2e3d438″,”width”:240}]},{“weighting”:”supporting”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cb1b115e2b3fc40eb993b28c03404148015bed38/0_680_1186_711/master/1186.jpg?width=380&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=d871dd890e124aa247342bfbfe980b9d”,”width”:380},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cb1b115e2b3fc40eb993b28c03404148015bed38/0_680_1186_711/master/1186.jpg?width=380&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=3f989f06b1cad2fec4c3e9155cb227bb”,”width”:760},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cb1b115e2b3fc40eb993b28c03404148015bed38/0_680_1186_711/master/1186.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=658da21fb89bb0b6d4b4d33eae765b22″,”width”:300},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cb1b115e2b3fc40eb993b28c03404148015bed38/0_680_1186_711/master/1186.jpg?width=300&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=332cdfd9ae90da6b7c3314dd7a6ae0d8″,”width”:600},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cb1b115e2b3fc40eb993b28c03404148015bed38/0_680_1186_711/master/1186.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=b36410fd200c9005f176201d94aa3a97″,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cb1b115e2b3fc40eb993b28c03404148015bed38/0_680_1186_711/master/1186.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=6af6672fee47f8d2bf56c68cb7bfe96c”,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cb1b115e2b3fc40eb993b28c03404148015bed38/0_680_1186_711/master/1186.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=90c5b482fa54e7b1396940a61630d92b”,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cb1b115e2b3fc40eb993b28c03404148015bed38/0_680_1186_711/master/1186.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=6ff56d4bbbfd23d9a5c835e6581983bd”,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cb1b115e2b3fc40eb993b28c03404148015bed38/0_680_1186_711/master/1186.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=5ffef1c23d46cdf8015b6face27fb7d4″,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cb1b115e2b3fc40eb993b28c03404148015bed38/0_680_1186_711/master/1186.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=d6d4ca384b253966ef12b20bb91444d5″,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”showcase”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cb1b115e2b3fc40eb993b28c03404148015bed38/0_680_1186_711/master/1186.jpg?width=860&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=5110b807da41ac55df9dae7bcaaee1b3″,”width”:860},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cb1b115e2b3fc40eb993b28c03404148015bed38/0_680_1186_711/master/1186.jpg?width=860&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=94a19ba207e8cd19e27e7a9fd6d0e3ef”,”width”:1720},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cb1b115e2b3fc40eb993b28c03404148015bed38/0_680_1186_711/master/1186.jpg?width=780&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=a87ad4f94913a7f5992dd8258aac1205″,”width”:780},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cb1b115e2b3fc40eb993b28c03404148015bed38/0_680_1186_711/master/1186.jpg?width=780&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=50f22ea743e2ecfe8a8dbd2612e891a0″,”width”:1560},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cb1b115e2b3fc40eb993b28c03404148015bed38/0_680_1186_711/master/1186.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=b36410fd200c9005f176201d94aa3a97″,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cb1b115e2b3fc40eb993b28c03404148015bed38/0_680_1186_711/master/1186.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=6af6672fee47f8d2bf56c68cb7bfe96c”,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cb1b115e2b3fc40eb993b28c03404148015bed38/0_680_1186_711/master/1186.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=90c5b482fa54e7b1396940a61630d92b”,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cb1b115e2b3fc40eb993b28c03404148015bed38/0_680_1186_711/master/1186.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=6ff56d4bbbfd23d9a5c835e6581983bd”,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cb1b115e2b3fc40eb993b28c03404148015bed38/0_680_1186_711/master/1186.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=5ffef1c23d46cdf8015b6face27fb7d4″,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cb1b115e2b3fc40eb993b28c03404148015bed38/0_680_1186_711/master/1186.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=d6d4ca384b253966ef12b20bb91444d5″,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”halfwidth”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cb1b115e2b3fc40eb993b28c03404148015bed38/0_680_1186_711/master/1186.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=b36410fd200c9005f176201d94aa3a97″,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cb1b115e2b3fc40eb993b28c03404148015bed38/0_680_1186_711/master/1186.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=6af6672fee47f8d2bf56c68cb7bfe96c”,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cb1b115e2b3fc40eb993b28c03404148015bed38/0_680_1186_711/master/1186.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=90c5b482fa54e7b1396940a61630d92b”,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cb1b115e2b3fc40eb993b28c03404148015bed38/0_680_1186_711/master/1186.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=6ff56d4bbbfd23d9a5c835e6581983bd”,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cb1b115e2b3fc40eb993b28c03404148015bed38/0_680_1186_711/master/1186.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=5ffef1c23d46cdf8015b6face27fb7d4″,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cb1b115e2b3fc40eb993b28c03404148015bed38/0_680_1186_711/master/1186.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=d6d4ca384b253966ef12b20bb91444d5″,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”immersive”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cb1b115e2b3fc40eb993b28c03404148015bed38/0_680_1186_711/master/1186.jpg?width=1900&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=13eb061ff70da27c1321f7552bada8be”,”width”:1900},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cb1b115e2b3fc40eb993b28c03404148015bed38/0_680_1186_711/master/1186.jpg?width=1900&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=852c8d63cd6eda0f715a8b49fa26b5ba”,”width”:3800},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cb1b115e2b3fc40eb993b28c03404148015bed38/0_680_1186_711/master/1186.jpg?width=1300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=2327e101a918215c456b942d977438b4″,”width”:1300},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cb1b115e2b3fc40eb993b28c03404148015bed38/0_680_1186_711/master/1186.jpg?width=1300&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=7f0bd7adfa4e7ecaad3e9eecccb0bbc7″,”width”:2600},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cb1b115e2b3fc40eb993b28c03404148015bed38/0_680_1186_711/master/1186.jpg?width=1140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=9da7addf72cc5e4e87894fb57ff28747″,”width”:1140},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cb1b115e2b3fc40eb993b28c03404148015bed38/0_680_1186_711/master/1186.jpg?width=1140&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=14972f42e4f92bf8669ce24675434f7d”,”width”:2280},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cb1b115e2b3fc40eb993b28c03404148015bed38/0_680_1186_711/master/1186.jpg?width=980&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=b15e8bae3635a2d91b4078db5baadd67″,”width”:980},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cb1b115e2b3fc40eb993b28c03404148015bed38/0_680_1186_711/master/1186.jpg?width=980&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=0d2981b51c6127f6b32d1d54cf3f85f1″,”width”:1960},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cb1b115e2b3fc40eb993b28c03404148015bed38/0_680_1186_711/master/1186.jpg?width=740&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=70206b50d9f7fa4f314bd4ff9206d8c0″,”width”:740},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cb1b115e2b3fc40eb993b28c03404148015bed38/0_680_1186_711/master/1186.jpg?width=740&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=263e31ab1c20a57257633510acc1560b”,”width”:1480},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cb1b115e2b3fc40eb993b28c03404148015bed38/0_680_1186_711/master/1186.jpg?width=660&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=9c7b01e7187ae7e53e8e5cae32b6e09d”,”width”:660},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cb1b115e2b3fc40eb993b28c03404148015bed38/0_680_1186_711/master/1186.jpg?width=660&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=fa5bda1dbca9007095060202356b8e4a”,”width”:1320},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cb1b115e2b3fc40eb993b28c03404148015bed38/0_680_1186_711/master/1186.jpg?width=480&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=6b1aa0380f53da7065f2651f89e1110b”,”width”:480},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cb1b115e2b3fc40eb993b28c03404148015bed38/0_680_1186_711/master/1186.jpg?width=480&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=c5b652f7248cf69d1b1de3b6da1c3ecc”,”width”:960}]}],”data”:{“alt”:”On Monday, police released a mugshot of Axel Rudakubana, taken after his arrest.”,”caption”:”On Monday, police released a mugshot of Axel Rudakubana, taken after his arrest.”,”credit”:”Photograph: Merseyside Police”}},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
He had been excluded from mainstream education, having taken a knife to school, and was described by one former school friend as “a ticking timebomb”.
“,”elementId”:”744f7e9e-7524-4cb5-8de1-772744522f23″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
We are likely to get a little more detail on Rudakubana’s background and motives during the sentencing hearing today, though it may never be clear what drove the attack.
“,”elementId”:”f62313e7-9505-4be0-be00-fe23a73482e6″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
After the guilty pleas were entered, the Crown Prosecution Service said:
“,”elementId”:”ed6baca0-2e25-49f0-884e-a4cfeabb05dc”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”
\n
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.
\n
“,”elementId”:”3dfaaa87-e236-432b-9997-0bc60fc41bcb”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement”,”prefix”:”Related: “,”text”:”Axel Rudakubana: a ‘ticking timebomb’ who murdered three girls in Southport”,”elementId”:”66f32a36-0fc9-44be-adbd-50fed808f9cf”,”role”:”thumbnail”,”url”:”https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/jan/20/axel-rudakubana-a-ticking-timebomb-who-murdered-three-girls-in-southport”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1737626633000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”05.03 EST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1737627356000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”05.15 EST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1737627356000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”05.15 EST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”05.15″,”title”:”What we know about the Southport killer Axel Rudakubana”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 23 Jan 2025 05.50 EST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Thu 23 Jan 2025 05.03 EST”},{“id”:”678e4e998f082205d2e966d9″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Good morning. I’m Robyn Vinter, the Guardian’s north of England correspondent, in court for the sentencing of 18-year-old Axel Rudakubana, who has pleaded guilty to the murders of three children, Alice da Silva Aguiar, Bebe King and Elsie Dot Stancombe, in Southport on 29 July 2024.
“,”elementId”:”bbc479ef-682d-4b9b-a4d4-a8d88578e1a0″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Rudakubana unexpectedly pleaded guilty to all charges on Monday, the day his trial at Liverpool crown court was due to begin.
“,”elementId”:”639b7f0a-5e53-4325-87af-e2cfa2784bcb”},{“displayCredit”:true,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement”,”role”:”inline”,”media”:{“allImages”:[{“index”:0,”fields”:{“height”:”1210″,”width”:”2016″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/8dbf2a89e98dff900d6cf468cc0e1f73b71daa68/0_158_2016_1210/2016.jpg”},{“index”:1,”fields”:{“isMaster”:”true”,”height”:”1210″,”width”:”2016″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/8dbf2a89e98dff900d6cf468cc0e1f73b71daa68/0_158_2016_1210/master/2016.jpg”},{“index”:2,”fields”:{“height”:”1200″,”width”:”2000″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/8dbf2a89e98dff900d6cf468cc0e1f73b71daa68/0_158_2016_1210/2000.jpg”},{“index”:3,”fields”:{“height”:”600″,”width”:”1000″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/8dbf2a89e98dff900d6cf468cc0e1f73b71daa68/0_158_2016_1210/1000.jpg”},{“index”:4,”fields”:{“height”:”300″,”width”:”500″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/8dbf2a89e98dff900d6cf468cc0e1f73b71daa68/0_158_2016_1210/500.jpg”},{“index”:5,”fields”:{“height”:”84″,”width”:”140″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/8dbf2a89e98dff900d6cf468cc0e1f73b71daa68/0_158_2016_1210/140.jpg”}]},”elementId”:”9f704e7f-1e02-49a9-9414-5c09739bb4e6″,”imageSources”:[{“weighting”:”inline”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8dbf2a89e98dff900d6cf468cc0e1f73b71daa68/0_158_2016_1210/master/2016.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=d70ea42d640c8b811eeccee10b4ddd99″,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8dbf2a89e98dff900d6cf468cc0e1f73b71daa68/0_158_2016_1210/master/2016.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=0616de70c3c397dc7b77cd49a0bc3a9d”,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8dbf2a89e98dff900d6cf468cc0e1f73b71daa68/0_158_2016_1210/master/2016.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=ac0d9b98ee80b50c00140276f871b76a”,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8dbf2a89e98dff900d6cf468cc0e1f73b71daa68/0_158_2016_1210/master/2016.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=7d4900cd11e403140ea6ec68c2d3e61d”,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8dbf2a89e98dff900d6cf468cc0e1f73b71daa68/0_158_2016_1210/master/2016.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=43767b3767848fd03e398b0459f8f869″,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8dbf2a89e98dff900d6cf468cc0e1f73b71daa68/0_158_2016_1210/master/2016.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=95a8ebab4ee69422ae6e8dc98357b213″,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”thumbnail”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8dbf2a89e98dff900d6cf468cc0e1f73b71daa68/0_158_2016_1210/master/2016.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=bd256ac51f6496c6129d2a090b1b44b3″,”width”:140},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8dbf2a89e98dff900d6cf468cc0e1f73b71daa68/0_158_2016_1210/master/2016.jpg?width=140&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=d2bc78136344b63a1531f502620018db”,”width”:280},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8dbf2a89e98dff900d6cf468cc0e1f73b71daa68/0_158_2016_1210/master/2016.jpg?width=120&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=f7c81386dca3481a0125613fed6ac314″,”width”:120},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8dbf2a89e98dff900d6cf468cc0e1f73b71daa68/0_158_2016_1210/master/2016.jpg?width=120&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=bd319f45b91144c93d8a3c0409224775″,”width”:240}]},{“weighting”:”supporting”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8dbf2a89e98dff900d6cf468cc0e1f73b71daa68/0_158_2016_1210/master/2016.jpg?width=380&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=cc4751225ef19699762da4037ea4c327″,”width”:380},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8dbf2a89e98dff900d6cf468cc0e1f73b71daa68/0_158_2016_1210/master/2016.jpg?width=380&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=21e2df4c612f4abaa24df6f0b4f0449d”,”width”:760},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8dbf2a89e98dff900d6cf468cc0e1f73b71daa68/0_158_2016_1210/master/2016.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=382a7f0776621aca4eafa2ea4d857be0″,”width”:300},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8dbf2a89e98dff900d6cf468cc0e1f73b71daa68/0_158_2016_1210/master/2016.jpg?width=300&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=0a7b3be079913a5fea31044fd2c4be95″,”width”:600},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8dbf2a89e98dff900d6cf468cc0e1f73b71daa68/0_158_2016_1210/master/2016.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=d70ea42d640c8b811eeccee10b4ddd99″,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8dbf2a89e98dff900d6cf468cc0e1f73b71daa68/0_158_2016_1210/master/2016.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=0616de70c3c397dc7b77cd49a0bc3a9d”,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8dbf2a89e98dff900d6cf468cc0e1f73b71daa68/0_158_2016_1210/master/2016.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=ac0d9b98ee80b50c00140276f871b76a”,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8dbf2a89e98dff900d6cf468cc0e1f73b71daa68/0_158_2016_1210/master/2016.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=7d4900cd11e403140ea6ec68c2d3e61d”,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8dbf2a89e98dff900d6cf468cc0e1f73b71daa68/0_158_2016_1210/master/2016.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=43767b3767848fd03e398b0459f8f869″,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8dbf2a89e98dff900d6cf468cc0e1f73b71daa68/0_158_2016_1210/master/2016.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=95a8ebab4ee69422ae6e8dc98357b213″,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”showcase”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8dbf2a89e98dff900d6cf468cc0e1f73b71daa68/0_158_2016_1210/master/2016.jpg?width=860&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=b1ca3edb04a0545efd98ee02cac5f13c”,”width”:860},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8dbf2a89e98dff900d6cf468cc0e1f73b71daa68/0_158_2016_1210/master/2016.jpg?width=860&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=912fc086cb24641323f04486c2366b2b”,”width”:1720},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8dbf2a89e98dff900d6cf468cc0e1f73b71daa68/0_158_2016_1210/master/2016.jpg?width=780&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=d9a77fd51f9e9f53afecd0e50e47078f”,”width”:780},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8dbf2a89e98dff900d6cf468cc0e1f73b71daa68/0_158_2016_1210/master/2016.jpg?width=780&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=2137aa91a1b27e264be0c50456ef8b1f”,”width”:1560},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8dbf2a89e98dff900d6cf468cc0e1f73b71daa68/0_158_2016_1210/master/2016.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=d70ea42d640c8b811eeccee10b4ddd99″,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8dbf2a89e98dff900d6cf468cc0e1f73b71daa68/0_158_2016_1210/master/2016.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=0616de70c3c397dc7b77cd49a0bc3a9d”,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8dbf2a89e98dff900d6cf468cc0e1f73b71daa68/0_158_2016_1210/master/2016.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=ac0d9b98ee80b50c00140276f871b76a”,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8dbf2a89e98dff900d6cf468cc0e1f73b71daa68/0_158_2016_1210/master/2016.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=7d4900cd11e403140ea6ec68c2d3e61d”,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8dbf2a89e98dff900d6cf468cc0e1f73b71daa68/0_158_2016_1210/master/2016.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=43767b3767848fd03e398b0459f8f869″,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8dbf2a89e98dff900d6cf468cc0e1f73b71daa68/0_158_2016_1210/master/2016.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=95a8ebab4ee69422ae6e8dc98357b213″,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”halfwidth”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8dbf2a89e98dff900d6cf468cc0e1f73b71daa68/0_158_2016_1210/master/2016.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=d70ea42d640c8b811eeccee10b4ddd99″,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8dbf2a89e98dff900d6cf468cc0e1f73b71daa68/0_158_2016_1210/master/2016.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=0616de70c3c397dc7b77cd49a0bc3a9d”,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8dbf2a89e98dff900d6cf468cc0e1f73b71daa68/0_158_2016_1210/master/2016.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=ac0d9b98ee80b50c00140276f871b76a”,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8dbf2a89e98dff900d6cf468cc0e1f73b71daa68/0_158_2016_1210/master/2016.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=7d4900cd11e403140ea6ec68c2d3e61d”,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8dbf2a89e98dff900d6cf468cc0e1f73b71daa68/0_158_2016_1210/master/2016.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=43767b3767848fd03e398b0459f8f869″,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8dbf2a89e98dff900d6cf468cc0e1f73b71daa68/0_158_2016_1210/master/2016.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=95a8ebab4ee69422ae6e8dc98357b213″,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”immersive”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8dbf2a89e98dff900d6cf468cc0e1f73b71daa68/0_158_2016_1210/master/2016.jpg?width=1900&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=fddd265538a5e9e88085bcfdba3296a5″,”width”:1900},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8dbf2a89e98dff900d6cf468cc0e1f73b71daa68/0_158_2016_1210/master/2016.jpg?width=1900&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=85b3194eb30327442b9b8ffabda3bceb”,”width”:3800},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8dbf2a89e98dff900d6cf468cc0e1f73b71daa68/0_158_2016_1210/master/2016.jpg?width=1300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=fbeddb46c2fd9340717ddb2fefe28da6″,”width”:1300},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8dbf2a89e98dff900d6cf468cc0e1f73b71daa68/0_158_2016_1210/master/2016.jpg?width=1300&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=8a72f10b752401f8fc487ac60761c659″,”width”:2600},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8dbf2a89e98dff900d6cf468cc0e1f73b71daa68/0_158_2016_1210/master/2016.jpg?width=1140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=b888d4e1e6c314f231a2c265d2c69031″,”width”:1140},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8dbf2a89e98dff900d6cf468cc0e1f73b71daa68/0_158_2016_1210/master/2016.jpg?width=1140&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=1ccbff44766dc652ced40d7d6eb22e2d”,”width”:2280},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8dbf2a89e98dff900d6cf468cc0e1f73b71daa68/0_158_2016_1210/master/2016.jpg?width=980&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=edb166e707ef1ff521adc78533d572c1″,”width”:980},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8dbf2a89e98dff900d6cf468cc0e1f73b71daa68/0_158_2016_1210/master/2016.jpg?width=980&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=eee1cd78b0133e84762b310982c2cdcc”,”width”:1960},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8dbf2a89e98dff900d6cf468cc0e1f73b71daa68/0_158_2016_1210/master/2016.jpg?width=740&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=98c40b4056c1db61f8b122990c827df5″,”width”:740},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8dbf2a89e98dff900d6cf468cc0e1f73b71daa68/0_158_2016_1210/master/2016.jpg?width=740&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=b29359ffddeaa2f057290f5ee235b856″,”width”:1480},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8dbf2a89e98dff900d6cf468cc0e1f73b71daa68/0_158_2016_1210/master/2016.jpg?width=660&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=60edff10a1da5e8fe5a1fd1b4a769d1b”,”width”:660},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8dbf2a89e98dff900d6cf468cc0e1f73b71daa68/0_158_2016_1210/master/2016.jpg?width=660&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=efb733fcd98550f76f957ece5aace10e”,”width”:1320},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8dbf2a89e98dff900d6cf468cc0e1f73b71daa68/0_158_2016_1210/master/2016.jpg?width=480&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=884d26abb2ba134614678e43c8dc7a48″,”width”:480},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8dbf2a89e98dff900d6cf468cc0e1f73b71daa68/0_158_2016_1210/master/2016.jpg?width=480&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=9a21e797c4206657ba766b17037b9cd5″,”width”:960}]}],”data”:{“alt”:”Rudakubana refused to speak or stand for the judge in any of his earlier hearings.”,”caption”:”Rudakubana refused to speak or stand for the judge in any of his earlier hearings.”,”credit”:”Photograph: Elizabeth Cook/PA”}},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
The jury had not yet been sworn in when the teenager changed his plea to guilty for all 16 counts on the indictment: three counts of murder, 10 of attempted murder, possession of a knife, producing the poison ricin and possession of a terrorist manual.
“,”elementId”:”955921a0-3ac8-4029-8874-c0b636c5258b”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
The trial had been expected to last at least two weeks and the court was due to hear from the victims and witnesses of the attack, including the teachers at the Taylor Swift-themed dance class where the murders occurred, police officers who responded to the unfolding tragedy and paramedics who tended to the injured and dying children.
“,”elementId”:”81f314ba-1e89-4dc4-af4d-673e4b5f65fb”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Pathologists, computer experts and a chemist had also been scheduled to give expert evidence.
“,”elementId”:”20108d38-efd0-40d1-be09-7bb8c9db9706″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
More background here, as reported by my colleague, the north of England editor, Josh Halliday on Monday:
“,”elementId”:”8054739e-f0e7-4239-a916-e75d1bebf599″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement”,”prefix”:”Related: “,”text”:”Southport attacker Axel Rudakubana admits murdering three girls”,”elementId”:”92acbfd3-1ae5-4d2f-ac7b-9e548b97c0ad”,”role”:”thumbnail”,”url”:”https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/jan/20/southport-attacker-axel-rudakubana-admits-murdering-three-girls”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:true,”keyEvent”:false,”summary”:true},”blockCreatedOn”:1737626633000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”05.03 EST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1737626628000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”05.03 EST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1737626633000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”05.03 EST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”05.03″,”title”:”Southport killer Axel Rudakubana is being sentenced today”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 23 Jan 2025 05.50 EST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Thu 23 Jan 2025 05.03 EST”}],”filterKeyEvents”:false,”id”:”key-events-carousel-mobile”,”absoluteServerTimes”:false,”renderingTarget”:”Web”}”>
Key events
Josh Halliday
A senior detective on the Southport investigation told the Guardian he hopes the judge will exceed the minimum 55 year prison sentence handed to Hashem Abedi for his role in the Manchester Arena attack.
Abedi was under 21 at the time of the atrocity meaning he couldn’t be handed a whole life term which would have ensured he was never released from prison.
The minimum age limit has since been reduced to 18 for whole life terms in exceptional circumstances, which Rudakubana would almost certainly have met – however he was nine days short of his 18th birthday at the time of the knife attack on 29 July last year.
Axel Rudakubana expected to receive substantial sentence
Rudakubana is expected to receive a substantial sentence for his crimes.
He will be given what is known as a “life sentence”, which will have a minimum term order. The terminology is a little confusing – this does not automatically mean he will die in prison.
An offender who has committed multiple murders and also has a terror charge might normally receive a “whole life order”, which means they would never get out of prison. But Rudakubana is not eligible as he was below the age of 18 at the time of the attack.
When considering the sentence, the judge will have a starting point and take into consideration aggravating and mitigating factors. In this case, the degree of planning Rudakubana put into the crime and the fact he targeted children would be aggravating factors. We will hear from Rudakubana’s barrister today on the mitigating factors, though there may be few. His guilty plea before the trial will be taken into account, as offenders receive a reduced sentence for pleading guilty – the earlier they plead, the bigger reduction in their sentence.
Who were the victims?
Three young girls were killed during Rudakubana’s murderous rampage on 29 July.
Elsie Dot Stancombe
Aged seven, Elsie was described by her family as a “devoted Swiftie” who “brought light, love and joy to so many lives”. She went to Farnborough Road Infant School and was a member of a cheerleading group called Vortex Cheer, who formed a guard of honour during her funeral.
Elsie’s great-aunt described her as “lovely, sweet and gentle”, the BBC reported. Jean Stevenson said her grand-niece was “absolutely the sweetest child you could ever wish to meet”.
Bebe King
The youngest of the victims, “shimmering star” Bebe was just six years old when she was murdered by Axel Rudakubana.
In a statement after her death, her parents Lauren and Ben King said she “was full of joy, light, and love, and she will always remain in our hearts as the sweet, kind, and spirited girl we adore”.
She was from a close-knit family, her grandfather, Michael Weston King, wrote in a social media post.
“Bebe was such a sweet, happy little thing. Loving life, in particular music and theatre, and enjoying the deep affection in which she was held by her family and friends,” he wrote.
Alice da Silva Aguiar
Nine-year-old Alice was the first child victim to be named, after she died in hospital the day after the attack.
Described by her parents as a “princess”, she was in year 4 at Churchtown primary school, where her headteacher Jinnie Payne said: “Alice’s radiant smile brightened our days, and she embraced every aspect of school life with enthusiasm and joy.
“Her kindness, playful nature, and zest for trying new things will forever be remembered.”
In a statement read at her funeral, her Portuguese parents, Sergio and Alexandra, said she was the “perfect dream child” who loved animals and “moved our world” with her “confidence and empathy”. “Playful, energetic, friendly and always so respectful.”
The Guardian’s north of England editor Josh Halliday is one of only a small number of journalists reporting from inside Liverpool crown court.
Such is the public interest in the case, the court has set up an overspill courtroom for journalists and family members who cannot get a seat inside the main courtroom.
What we know about the Southport killer Axel Rudakubana
Axel Rudakubana was born in Cardiff to Rwandan parents and lived in the village of Banks, near Southport, when he carried out the attack at the age of 17.
Detectives investigating the murders found he had developed a deep and dark interest in extreme violence, spending hours researching genocide and watching graphic videos of murder.
He had been excluded from mainstream education, having taken a knife to school, and was described by one former school friend as “a ticking timebomb”.
We are likely to get a little more detail on Rudakubana’s background and motives during the sentencing hearing today, though it may never be clear what drove the attack.
After the guilty pleas were entered, the Crown Prosecution Service said:
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.
Josh Halliday
The hearing is due to begin at 11am at Liverpool crown court, where the previous hearings in this case have taken place.
There is a large police presence around the court, where two police officers are stationed at the entrance. A huge queue snakes out of the building to pass through security due to extra checks this morning. Opposite the court building a small group of activists has unfolded a banner for Patriotic Alternative, a rightwing group.
Southport killer Axel Rudakubana is being sentenced today
Good morning. I’m Robyn Vinter, the Guardian’s north of England correspondent, in court for the sentencing of 18-year-old Axel Rudakubana, who has pleaded guilty to the murders of three children, Alice da Silva Aguiar, Bebe King and Elsie Dot Stancombe, in Southport on 29 July 2024.
Rudakubana unexpectedly pleaded guilty to all charges on Monday, the day his trial at Liverpool crown court was due to begin.
The jury had not yet been sworn in when the teenager changed his plea to guilty for all 16 counts on the indictment: three counts of murder, 10 of attempted murder, possession of a knife, producing the poison ricin and possession of a terrorist manual.
The trial had been expected to last at least two weeks and the court was due to hear from the victims and witnesses of the attack, including the teachers at the Taylor Swift-themed dance class where the murders occurred, police officers who responded to the unfolding tragedy and paramedics who tended to the injured and dying children.
Pathologists, computer experts and a chemist had also been scheduled to give expert evidence.
More background here, as reported by my colleague, the north of England editor, Josh Halliday on Monday:
