SOUTHPORT killer Axel Rudakubana’s sentence has been deemed fair by the Attorney General. The teen was handed a life tariff with a minimum 52 years by a judge last month. It prompted anger that he could not receive a whole life order due to his age. He was 17 when he murdered Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, at a dance class last July. Because he was nine days from turning 18 at the time of the atrocity, he could not be given a whole life order.
![[Mugshot of Axel Rudakubana.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/undated-handout-photo-issued-merseyside-965245126_1f0c0f.jpg?strip=all&w=720)
The 52-year term is thought to be the longest for a killer his age. It was referred to Attorney General Lord Hermer for being too lenient but will not now be sent to the Appeal Court. Lord Hermer said yesterday: “No one would want the families to be put through an unnecessary further court process where there is no realistic legal basis for an increased sentence.”. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch led calls for a sentencing rules review.
![[Photos of Alice da Silva Aguiar, Elsie Dot Stancombe, and Bebe King.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/856ff8a7-0dfb-4252-9298-80b58a93242d.jpg?strip=all&w=716)
She said: “His age means he has not been given a whole life sentence, despite the countless lives he destroyed on that dreadful day.”. AXEL Rudakubana has pleaded guilty to the murders of Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, and 10 counts of attempted murder. Here is a timeline of events relating to the case:. 2002: Rudakubana's father Alphonse moves to the UK from Rwanda, according to an interview he gave to his local newspaper in Southport in 2015.
![[Photos of Alice da Silva Aguiar, Elsie Dot Stancombe, and Bebe King.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2a1a7e22-5e17-44cb-b8b4-67788d1ba1a3.jpg?strip=all&w=708)
August 7, 2006: Rudakubana is born in Cardiff, Wales. 2013: The family - including Rudakubana's father, mother and older brother - move from Wales to Banks in Lancashire, a few miles from Southport. July 29, 2024: Shortly before midday, a knifeman enters a dance class at The Hart Space in Hart Street in Southport. Bebe, Elsie and Alice are fatally wounded. Eight other children are injured, as are instructor Leanne Lucas and businessman John Hayes.
![[Photos of Alice da Silva Aguiar, Elsie Dot Stancombe, and Bebe King.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/d80846db-9129-4882-9525-1e2a1688205e.jpg?strip=all&w=702)
Police say they have detained a male and seized a knife. Within hours, claims spread online that the suspect is an asylum seeker who arrived in the UK by boat in 2023. Some claims include an alleged identity. July 30, 2024: In the evening, a peaceful vigil is held outside Southport's Atkinson arts venue, where flowers are laid in memory of those who died. Shortly after the vigil, a separate protest begins outside the town's mosque in St Luke's Road.
People throw items towards the mosque, property is damaged and police vehicles are set on fire. July 31, 2024: Demonstrators gather in Whitehall, London, for an "Enough Is Enough" protest. Flares and cans are thrown at police and more than 100 people are arrested. Disorder also breaks out in Hartlepool, County Durham, and Aldershot, Hampshire. August 1, 2024: Police announce that Rudakubana has been charged with the murders of Bebe, Elsie Dot and Alice, 10 counts of attempted murder and possession of a bladed article.
He is not named by police because of his age. He appears in court in Liverpool and Honorary Recorder of Liverpool Andrew Menary KC rules he can be named, as he is due to turn 18 in a week. He initially smiled on entering the courtroom - then kept his face covered by his sweatshirt for the remainder of the proceedings before the case was adjourned. Later that evening, demonstrators gather outside a hotel in Newton Heath, Manchester.
August 2, 2024: Three police officers are taken to hospital after disorder in Sunderland. August 3, 2024: There are scenes of violence during planned protests across the UK, including in Liverpool, Hull, Nottingham and Belfast. August 4, 2024: Disorder continues, including outside a Holiday Inn Express in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, where masked demonstrators launch lengths of wood and sprayed fire extinguishers at police officers.
August 5, 2024: The Government holds an emergency Cobra meeting in the wake of the disorder and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer vows to "ramp up criminal justice". That evening, a peaceful vigil is held in Southport, a week on from the killings. Police deal with disorder in Plymouth, Devon and Darlington, County Durham. August 7, 2024: Prison sentences for those involved in the unrest begin to be handed out. Derek Drummond, 58, is the first person to be jailed for violent disorder at Liverpool Crown Court, where he is sentenced to three years.
More than 100 protests are planned for across the country, with counter-demonstrations taking place, but the majority of police forces report very little trouble. October 29, 2024: Merseyside Police announces Rudakubana will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court via videolink the next day charged with production of a biological toxin, Ricin, and possession of information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing to commit an act of terrorism.
October 30, 2024: Rudakubana appears at Westminster Magistrates' Court via videolink from HMP Belmarsh to face the two new charges. He holds his sweater over the bottom half of his face and does not respond when asked to confirm his name. November 13, 2024: Rudakubana appears at Liverpool Crown Court via videolink. He covers his face with his grey sweatshirt and does not speak throughout the hearing.