The parents of Bebe King have paid tribute to their young daughter as they revealed through tears how they said goodbye to the six-year-old. Bebe was one of three girls stabbed to death in the attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance and yoga class in Southport last July. The youngster was the youngest killed in the atrocity, alongside nine-year-old Alicia da Silva Aguiar and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven.
The parents of Elsie and Bebe spoke publicly on Good Morning Britain this morning. Speaking to presenter Susannah Reid, Bebe's parents described the youngster as "mighty" but "so kind". Bebe's mum, who remained anonymous, said: "I've got to make sure that she isn't defined by this. She was pure light, she was pure joy.". The parents told their harrowing account of saying goodbye to their daughter at Alder Hey Children's Hospital after the unfathomable attack on July 29. "She was in her pyjamas," he mum said. "We read to her. The family visited her on the final day.".
Through tears, she added: "We laid next to her, and did our final goodbye." The interviews also revealed how, weeks after the attacks, victims' families were invited by Swift to her Eras Tour at Wembley to meet face-to-face. Elsie's parents Jenni and David said the singer had met with them, asking to see pictures and hear about the seven-year-old. “Oh god, if Elsie knew that Taylor knew her, that all her dreams had come true,” Jenni said. Her dad David said: “She [Taylor] kept a couple of pictures as well didn’t she?” Elsie's mum added: “Yeah we showed her the pictures and she went 'can I keep these?'".
The parents have also welcomed plans announced by Prime Minister Keir Starmer for a public inquiry into the attack. Elsie's mum Jenni added: "It will hold people to account for some of the decisions that they've made, and as a result allowed this to happen. Our girls just need to be safe. Our children need to be safer and protected.". Killer Axel Rudakubana was jailed for a minimum of 52 years at Liverpool Crown Court. The 18-year-old pleaded guilty to the murders, alongside the attempted murders of 10 others - including eight children.
