The teenager accused of killing three girls in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class has had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf after staying silent in court once again. Axel Rudakubana, 18, is charged with the murders of Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, who died following the stabbings at The Hart Space in Southport, Merseyside, shortly before midday on July 29.
Image Credit: Metro [Handout photo of Bebe King, 6, one of the three children killed in a knife attack during a Taylor Swift event at a dance school in SOuthport. Axel Rudakubana, 18, who is accused of the knife-attack murder of three girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, has been charged with a terror offence and producing the deadly poison ricin which was found in his home.Issue date: Tuesday October 29, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story POLICE Southport. Photo credit should read: Merseyside Police/PA Wire Issue date: Tuesday October 29, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story POLICE Southport. Photo credit should read: Merseyside Police/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.]
Cardiff-born Rudakubana, who was 17 at the time, is also charged with the attempted murder of eight other children, who cannot be named for legal reasons, along with instructor Leanne Lucas and businessman John Hayes. He appeared at Liverpool Crown Court via videolink from HMP Belmarsh for a preparatory hearing this afternoon. Wearing a grey sweatshirt, he moved his head from side to side at times as the charges were read to him.
Image Credit: Metro [Handout file photo of Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, one of the three children killed in a knife attack during a Taylor Swift event at a dance school in Southport. Axel Rudakubana, 18, who is accused of the knife-attack murder of three girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, has been charged with a terror offence and producing the deadly poison ricin which was found in his home. Issue date: Tuesday October 29, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story POLICE Southport. Photo credit should read: Merseyside Police/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.]
Rudakubana also declined to speak when charged with possession of a knife, production of biological toxin ricin, and possession of information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing to commit an act of terrorism. Pleas of not guilty were entered to all 16 counts on the indictment.
Image Credit: Metro [Handout file photo of Alice da Silva Aguiar, 9, one of the three children killed in a knife attack during a Taylor Swift event at a dance school in Southport. Axel Rudakubana, 18, who is accused of the knife-attack murder of three girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, has been charged with a terror offence and producing the deadly poison ricin which was found in his home.Issue date: Tuesday October 29, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story POLICE Southport. Photo credit should read: Merseyside Police/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.]
Rudakubana has similarly remained silent throughout his previous court appearances. About 15 family members, including Alice’s parents, were in the public gallery for the hearing. The day after the attack, thousands of people turned out for a peaceful vigil in the town.
Image Credit: Metro [Axel Rudakubana named as the accused for the Southport dance party killings]
![[Handout photo of Bebe King, 6, one of the three children killed in a knife attack during a Taylor Swift event at a dance school in SOuthport. Axel Rudakubana, 18, who is accused of the knife-attack murder of three girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, has been charged with a terror offence and producing the deadly poison ricin which was found in his home.Issue date: Tuesday October 29, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story POLICE Southport. Photo credit should read: Merseyside Police/PA Wire Issue date: Tuesday October 29, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story POLICE Southport. Photo credit should read: Merseyside Police/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/SEI_227604457-0a94.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
![[Handout file photo of Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, one of the three children killed in a knife attack during a Taylor Swift event at a dance school in Southport. Axel Rudakubana, 18, who is accused of the knife-attack murder of three girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, has been charged with a terror offence and producing the deadly poison ricin which was found in his home. Issue date: Tuesday October 29, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story POLICE Southport. Photo credit should read: Merseyside Police/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/SEI_227604543-c8db.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
![[Handout file photo of Alice da Silva Aguiar, 9, one of the three children killed in a knife attack during a Taylor Swift event at a dance school in Southport. Axel Rudakubana, 18, who is accused of the knife-attack murder of three girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, has been charged with a terror offence and producing the deadly poison ricin which was found in his home.Issue date: Tuesday October 29, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story POLICE Southport. Photo credit should read: Merseyside Police/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/SEI_227604456-ba53.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
![[Axel Rudakubana named as the accused for the Southport dance party killings]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/SEI_215282705-582a.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=492)
