Southport killer on his way to massacre: Chilling footage shows monster in taxi and at dance class

Southport killer Axel Rudakubana was today sentenced to life with a minimum of 52 years for the murder of three young girls during his monstrous attack on a Taylor Swift themed dance class.

The violence-obsessed 18-year-old cowardly refused to face his victims’ families, remaining in his cell as the judge handed down his sentence – after being pulled from the dock twice while complaining he was ‘ill’.

Mr Justice Goose said it was ‘highly likely’ Rudakubana will never be released from prison after murdering Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, and attempting to murder ten others.

Shortly before the verdict was handed down, the parents of the murdered girls told how they were ‘no longer living’ following their tragic deaths, spending every day in a ‘state of permanent numbness’.

Disturbing footage played in court earlier today shows the fiend skulking silently in the back seat of a taxi on the way to the dance class – his cold, demonic eyes just visible over a blue facemask.

He is then seen calmly walking towards the Hart Space building where the dance class was being held. After finding the main door was closed, he enters through another door and up the stairs.

Witnesses described screams coming from inside the building within 30 seconds as the deranged teenager began targeting the girls inside.

Sentencing Rudakubana this afternoon, Mr Justice Goose said: ‘Many will describe what he did as evil. Who could dispute it? In any view, this was the most extreme, shocking and serious crime.

‘I’m satisfied that had he been able to, he would have killed each and every child, all 26 of them and any adults who got in the way. It’s only because some managed to escape that prevented many more from being murdered.’

The judge said he was unable to give Rudakubana a whole life tariff because he was days away from his 18th birthday when he carried out the atrocity. The killer would have to go before the Parole Board before he is ever released.

He received 13 life sentences. He was also given a 12-year jail sentence for production of ricin which an expert said could have killed 12,500 people with more purification, and 18 month sentences for possession of the knife and Al Qaeda manual.

Rudakubana’s sentence is one of the highest minimum custody terms on record and is also thought to be the longest imposed on a killer of his age.

Although Rudakubana’s actions did not meet the statutory definition of terrorism, Mr Justice Goose said: ‘In my judgement his culpability for this extreme violence is equivalent to that of terrorist murders whatever his motives.’

In other updates following a deeply disturbing day in court –

Rudakubana crowed ‘I’m glad they’re dead’ after murdering three young girls;
Phoned Childline in October 2019 to ask: ‘What should I do if I want to kill somebody?’;
Victims’ families spoke of the horror of losing their beloved children to ‘pure evil’ Rudakubana;
Slammed the ‘systemic failures’ which meant warning signs about the him were missed;
Previous actions prompted six separate calls to police and three separate referrals to Prevent, the government anti-terror programme;
Politicians including Tory leader Kemi Badenoch called for law to be changed to give judge’s the discretion to hand under-18s whole life orders;
Rudakubana’s father stopped his evil son from carrying out a ‘high school massacre’ a week before the Southport rampage;
Horrific injuries sustained by the victims were branded ‘sadistic in nature’;
Court sobs at horrific CCTV showing moment girl tried to escape Rudakubana’s killing spree before she’s dragged back inside;

Rudakubana admitted, on Monday this week, the attempted murder of eight other children, who cannot be named for legal reasons, as well as class instructor Leanne Lucas and businessman John Hayes.

He further pleaded guilty to possession of a knife on the day of the attack, production of a biological toxin – ricin – on or before July 29, and possession of information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing to commit an act of terrorism.

MPs and leaders across the political divide have been reacting to the news of Rudakubana’s sentencing this afternoon.

Sir Keir Starmer reached out to survivors and those affected by the ‘atrocity’ in Southport, saying ‘we stand with you in your grief’. Turning to Rudakubana’s life sentence, he said: ‘this vile offender will likely never be released’.

The Prime Minister added, in a statement on X: ‘After one of the most harrowing moments in our country’s history we owe it to these innocent young girls and all those affected to deliver the change that they deserve.’

Meanwhile, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said she will explore changing the law so teenagers can receive whole life orders.

Reform leader Nigel Farage also reacted to the sentencing. He wrote on X: ‘The cover-up is over. The truth is that all of our authorities have failed.

‘I have no confidence that any lessons will be learned until we have leadership that is strong and unafraid.’

Family members were given the option to leave court at today’s sentencing hearing ahead of CCTV being played, but all remained in the court – though some left as details of pathological evidence began to be read out.

Earlier during the hearing, they sat through horrific details about Rudakubana’s sadism and utter lack of remorse, with the teenager saying ‘I’m glad they’re dead’ after being arrested.

As the prosecution read their opening note, Rudakubana turned to a dock officer and said: ‘I’m not fine, I feel ill.’

He shouted repeatedly: ‘I need to speak to a paramedic, I feel ill. You’re not giving me any support, judge, I feel ill.’

When the judge tried to carry on with the case, Rudakubana exclaimed: ‘Don’t continue. I can’t remain quiet. I haven’t eaten for 10 days. I feel ill. I’m not going to remain quiet.’

A family member shouted ‘coward’ as Rudakubana left the dock after Mr Justice Goose ordered officers to take him out of court.

The prosecution then continued reading their opening, with the judge saying Rudakubana would be returned to court to receive his sentence.

Rudakubana was removed from the dock for a second time this afternoon as the hearing resumed, after he began to shout.

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

When there was no response, Rudakubana shouted: ‘Judge! Judge! Judge! I need to be seen by a paramedic.’

Mr Justice Goose asked dock officers to remove Rudakubana, adding: ‘He has been seen by two teams of paramedics, both of whom agreed he is fit.’

The parents of the murdered and injured girls told of their enduring pain in victim impact statements read out to the court.

Jenny Stancombe, mother of Elsie Dot Stancombe, aged seven, one of the three girls who died, told how her family had lost their ‘best friend’ through an act of ‘pure evil’.

Mrs Stancombe continued, in a statement read out by prosecutor Deanna Heer KC: ‘We are not going to stand here and list everything you have taken away from us, because we refuse to give you the satisfaction of hearing it.

‘We will not let you know anything about her because you don’t deserve to know the extraordinary person she was. You know what you have done and we hope the weight of that knowledge haunts you every day.’