Southport attack: Axel Rudakubana removed from court during sentencing | Southport attack

We now hear about Rudakubana’s background.

He was born in Cardiff and moved to Southport in 2013.

In 2019, he contacted Childline and asked: “What should I do if I want to kill someone?” He said he had brought a knife to school and might use it on someone he hated at school who he said bullied him.

Reference was made to the police, who visited him, and the school was also informed. He had been suspended at this point and this became permanent.

He was later asked why he brought a knife to school and he said, “To use it.”

A machete, arrows and another large kitchen knife were also found inside his home.

Three computers were retrieved, one of which contained an Al-Qaeda manual, part of which describes how to carry out a knife attack. Another part advised how to kill people with ricin, which the prosecutor said shows he knew how deadly the substance was when he made it.

The computers also contained graphic images of wars and conflicts, with images of dead bodies, victims of torture and beheadings. He also had cartoons mocking various religions, including Islam, Judaism and Christianity.

These were “a window into the defendant’s mind”, says Deanna Heer KC.

Rudakubana screams that he feels sick again and has been removed from the court.

He shouted: “Judge I feel really sick, I need to see a paramedic.

“Judge! Judge!

“I need to be seen by a paramedic! I feel sick!”

Heer goes on to tell of searches made at the murderer’s home in the village of Banks, near Southport. The search soon came to a halt when ricin was discovered in a plastic container under his bed.

Laboratory tests confirmed that the drug had been manufactured using equipment from his bedroom. Less than a gram of ricin can cause multi-organ failure, enough to kill an adult, and there is no antidote. There was no evidence that he used ricin during this attack or at any other time.

The prosecution is now reviewing the investigation of the scene and the weapon used in the attack, a single large kitchen knife.

Deanna Heer KC describes how Rudakubana was arrested and taken to a local police station.

However, remaining silent in interviews while in custody, he made a number of comments about the attack, which included: “I’m glad those kids are dead, it makes me happy,” and “So happy, six years old . It’s a good thing they’re dead, yes.”

We are back from a lunch break.

Rudakubana’s defense lawyer has said he was found by a doctor to be “fit and healthy” and that he understands he cannot interrupt the trial.

The court now pauses, as is customary, after troubling and disturbing details have been read out.

The court meets again at 2 p.m.

Deanna Heer KC is now speaking out about the survivors’ injuries. They were extremely severe, especially for a little girl who received several stab wounds and was forcibly delivered.

Children needed extensive life-saving operations, including blood transfusions, and spent time in high dependency units at Alder Hey and Manchester Children’s Hospitals. It is clear that they have suffered life-changing injuries. A child must take medicine for life.

Leanne Lucas, the dance teacher, suffered multiple stab wounds, particularly to the stomach and scalp. She had air in her chest cavity and required blood transfusions and several operations.

Alice da Silva Aguiar went into cardiac arrest on the spot and was taken to hospital. Doctors were able to establish a pulse, but her severe injuries led to her death the next morning.

Bebe King was also pronounced dead at the scene and was found on the landing. It is believed that she was initially attacked in the studio. Her injuries would also have been “instantly fatal” and would have been impossible to treat. Like Elsie, her cause of death was recorded as being caused by multiple stab wounds.

The pathological evidence is now being read by Deanna Heer KC. She explains that the injuries are caused by a certain degree of force.

She pauses to allow families to leave the courtroom.

Heer explains that Elsie Dot Stancome had suffered numerous stab wounds across her body, many of which were extremely severe. They would have been “rapidly fatal”. Some would have been inflicted after she died.

CCTV footage and police body-worn footage show police running into the building, directed by a member of the public. Rudakubana is thrown to the ground and arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

More footage shows the aftermath of the attack as the children’s bodies are found. An officer can be heard saying, “She’s dead.”

A clip plays of a little girl trying to escape from the front door only to be grabbed and pulled back by Rudakubana. It is seen that she manages to leave, but collapses.

A clip is shown of another girl collapsing in the street after being attacked and helped by a member of the public.

Gasps and wails come from the public gallery towards the injured children.

Rudakubana can be seen entering Hart Space. There is a pause, loud screams can then be heard and children can be seen running from the building.

The prosecutor has warned that the next clip is disturbing.

Footage of Rudakubana in the taxi on the way to the attack plays. He asks the taxi driver which building it is. He leaves the vehicle without paying and the taxi driver can be heard shouting after him: “Oi! You haven’t paid mate. What are you doing?”

The court was shown CCTV images of Rudakubana wearing a green hoodie with the hood up, black trousers, trainers and a Covid-style face mask to hide his identity.

Images are also shown of Hart Space, a white two-story building on a residential street. There is a floor plan with the location of the children at the start of the event marked.

CCTV footage and pathological evidence are being played in court. Members of the public who do not wish to be present have therefore been invited to leave the courtroom.