I would give anything to swap places with my fearless little Elsie, say parents of Southport victim in 1st TV interview

THE mum of Southport victim Elsie Dot Stancombe said she would give anything to have swapped places with her tragic daughter. Jenni and David Stancombe in their first interview, told of their heartbreak and need for accountability after a Government inquiry was launched into the horror incident. On July 29 last year teenage killer Axel Rudakubana burst into a Taylor Swift-themed dance class at The Hart Space armed with a knife.

He murdered Elsie, seven, as well as Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, and Bebe King, six, and injured several others. Rudakubana, 19, was jailed for life to serve a minimum of 52 years in prison last month. Jenni, 35, speaking to Good Morning Britain today, said: "We will never feel true happiness again ever.". Holding back tears, she added: "If we had been there it wouldn't have happened. "I might not be here but I'd have never let that happen. 100 percent. I'd swap with Elsie any day.".

She went on to say: "We represent Elsie and our actions and how we hold ourselves is a representation of her. "She was so much more than that school picture... we could never show you how special she was, only she could do that.". Asked what his overriding emotions are, David, 36, said: "Guilt, anger... it's just something I've got to deal with.". Jenni continued: "We just dropped her off to dance and make bracelets. That's all we did.

"It was something nice for her to do for a couple of hours in the first week of school holidays... "Lots have said we should never of sent her but she wanted to go so much and I think [it's something] we've spoke about a lot. She was in the right place and where she wanted to be.". David said his daughter and all the children "had every right to be there, and every right to feel safe". Jenni said "nothing will bring her back" and David said: "You just torment yourself.".

Asked about what they want to come out of the inquiry into the failings that led to Rudakubana slipping through the cracks despite being flagged up as a danger, Jenni said: "An element of accountability.". She continued: "So someone has made a decision that has resulted in an element of failure, then there needs to be accountability for that. "And I believe that the announcement of the inquiry will do that and it will hold people to account for some of the decisions that they've made.".

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. 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. 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.