Southport ‘killer’ pleads NOT guilty & refuses to speak in court after ‘murder’ of 3 girls at Taylor Swift dance class
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SOUTHPORT murder suspect Axel Rudakubana refused to speak as pleas of not guilty were today entered on his behalf. The 18-year-old, charged with three counts of murder and 10 counts of attempted murder, failed to reply when he appeared at Liverpool Crown Court via video link.
![[Axel Rudakubana refused to speak at Liverpool Crown Court]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/elsie-dot-stancombe-seven-died-958245656.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Rudakubana, of Old School Close in Banks, Lancashire, is charged with murdering Alice Da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, in Southport, Merseyside, on July 29. The teenager is also charged with attempting to murder eight other children and two adults, plus the production of toxin ricin, and having information useful in preparing a terrorist act.
![[Pleas of not guilty were entered for all 16 counts on the indictment]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/southport-murder-suspect-axel-rudakubana-945135946.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Pleas of not guilty were entered on his behalf to all 16 counts. Rudakubana appeared via videolink from HMP Belmarsh wearing a grey sweatshirt. He moved his head from side to side at times as the charges were read to him. Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, died following the stabbings at a Taylor Swift dance class on July 29 earlier this year.
Rudakubana's attempted murder charges relate to eight children, who cannot be named for legal reasons, instructor Leanne Lucas and businessman John Hayes. There were around 15 family members, including Alice's parents, in the public gallery today for the hearing.
