Teen sentenced to 52 years in prison for deadly stabbing at Taylor Swift-themed event
A teenager has been sentenced to 52 years in prison for fatally stabbing three girls at a children's Taylor Swift-themed event in the United Kingdom last year.
Axel Rudakubana, 18, pleaded guilty to all charges, including three counts of murder, earlier this week on the first day of his trial at Liverpool Crown Court.
The horrific stabbing spree unfolded in July in Southport, a seaside town about 20 miles north of Liverpool. Merseyside police said the children were attending a Taylor Swift-themed event at a dance school.
Three girls -- 6-year-old Bebe King, 7-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and 9-year-old Alice Da Silva Aguiar -- were killed. Ten people were also injured in the attack, police said.
Rudakubana, from Banks in Lancashire, was initially charged with three counts of murder, as well as 10 charges of attempted murder and one charge of possession of a knife in the incident. He subsequently faced a terror charge for possessing a jihadi training manual and was charged with producing ricin, a toxin, following a search of his home.
He pleaded guilty to all 16 charges on Monday.
Judge Julian Goose sentenced Rudakubana to a minimum of 52 years for the murder charges, with sentences on the additional charges running concurrently.
"It is highly likely that he will never be released," Goose said in court after issuing the sentence.
Goose called the attack the "most extreme, shocking and exceptionally serious crime."
"There were 26 children at the party, all of them happy and enjoying themselves. He targeted those children for the horrific, extreme violence he was intent upon. It was such extreme violence of the utmost seriousness it was difficult to comprehend," Goose said. "I'm sure Rudakubana had a settled and determined intention to kill and would have killed all 26 children.
Patrick Hurley, who represents Southport in the U.K. Parliament, called the sentence "unduly lenient" and has requested a review.
"The crimes committed were horrific and natural justice demands he spends the rest of his life behind bars," Hurley said in a statement. "I have therefore made a request to the Attorney General to have the sentence reviewed urgently, with a view of making sure he is never released. My community deserves nothing less."
During the sentencing hearing on Thursday, Rudakubana had to be removed from the dock at one point, officials said.
He was removed "after repeated attempts to disrupt the sentencing hearing by shouting as the prosecution tried to lay out the details of his awful crimes," Merseyside Detective Chief Inspector Jason Pye said in a statement.
"I am pleased to see that -- thanks to the determination of everyone involved in the legal process -- all his efforts to frustrate the process were in vain and he has now faced justice for his terrible actions," Pye said.
Pye said Rudakubana's "cowardly and terrifying attack" was the "most harrowing, large-scale investigation our force has ever dealt with."
"Although no outcome at court could possibly ease the pain and trauma of their families, I hope that knowing Rudakubana will now spend a considerable amount of time in prison will bring them some comfort," Pye said. "His sustained and ruthless attack took away the lives of three beautiful little girls, Bebe, Elsie and Alice, and the thoughts of everyone at Merseyside Police remain with their families. Our thoughts are also with the young girls who suffered serious injuries, and all of those who were traumatized by what they saw on that morning."
The families of Alice and Elsie had victim impact statements read out in court during Thursday's sentencing.
Alice was remembered as a "very kind girl, who valued equality and fairness at the core" who "loved her school, her friends, music, dance, colorful pens and friendship bracelets."
"Our dream girl has been taken away in such a horrible, undeserving way that it shattered our souls. We're heartbroken that we can never help Alice fulfill her dreams, we can't hug her anymore, brush her hair, take her to school through her beloved Botanic Gardens," the family statement read. "We can no longer wake up with Alice's happy smile, being playful or get a morning kiss and hug from her. The simple joys of life can no longer be enjoyed because it feels like there's no point."
Elsie's family called Rudakubana's premeditated actions "beyond contempt."
"Though you have stolen our daughter from us, you will not take away our determination to honor her memory," the family statement read. "We will carry her love, positivity and her legacy forward, no matter how much pain you have caused. There is nothing that can undo the damage he has caused, but knowing that he will never be free to cause any harm to vulnerable children again, would give us some small measure of justice."
Swift met with family members of the victims and those injured in the attack while she was performing at Wembley Stadium in August.
