Southport killer Axel Rudakubana handed new sentence but refuses to leave cell to face judge
4 February 2025, 10:43
Southport killer Axel Rudakubana has been handed a new sentence today to correct a "technical error" in a judge's first ruling.
Listen to this article
Loading audio...
But, the 18-year-old, once again refused to leave his cell to appear at Liverpool Crown Court via video-link from London's Belmarsh Prison on Tuesday morning for a mention hearing.
The child killer who was sentenced last month for the knife attack on a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in the town, also refused to speak to his own legal team.
Carmel Wilde, defending, told the court: "We understand from staff at Belmarsh that he has refused to leave his cell to attend court or to speak to his legal team."
Deanna Heer KC, prosecuting, asked the judge to amend Rudakubana's sentence for three counts of murder from custody for life to detention at His Majesty's pleasure, because he was under 18 at the time of the offence.
Mr Justice Goose said: "The case of the Crown against Axel Rudakubana was listed for mention on the application of the prosecution.
"The purpose of this hearing is to correct a technical error but which will have no effect on the total sentence imposed on the defendant on January 23 this year."
He said the sentence is "still a life sentence", but of a different kind.
He added: "The defendant has refused to waive his right to attend or to be here."
The judge told the court that, because of the circumstances of the application, which would not result in his sentence being lengthened, he was not required to attend.
Rudakubana was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 52 years after pleading guilty to murdering Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, at a dance class in Southport last July.
He also admitted attempting to murder eight other children and two adults, possession of a knife, production of a biological toxin - ricin - and possessing information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing to commit an act of terrorism.
