Man Who Stabbed 3 Girls at Taylor Swift-Themed Event Sentenced to Minimum of 52 Years in Prison - E! Online
British teen Axel Rudakubana has been sentenced to more than 50 years behind bars after pleading guilty to murdering three children in a stabbing attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class.
Watch : Man Pleads Guilty to Stabbing 3 Children at Taylor Swift-Themed Event
A British teen who murdered three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class will spend decades in prison.
Axel Rudakubana, 18, who pleaded guilty to the July killings in the English town of Southport not long before his scheduled trial was set to take place, will serve at least 52 years in prison.
The teen, who was 17 when he fatally stabbed Bebe King, 6, Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, 9, and injured 10 other people, was not present inside the Liverpool Crown Court Jan. 23 when his sentence was read due to an outburst earlier in the hearing in which he complained about feeling unwell, leading to him being escorted out.
In addition to three charges of murder, Rudakubana also pleaded guilty to 10 charges of attempted murder, one charge of possession of a knife, plus to possession of an Al Qaeda training manual and to producing the deadly poison ricin.
Judge Julian Goose said during the sentencing that Rudakubana did not receive a sentence of life in prison as he was under 18 when the attack took place, although he added, "it is likely he will never be released."
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Man Pleads Guilty to Stabbing 3 Children to Death at Taylor Swift-Themed Event
Ahead of the sentencing, prosecutor Deanna Heer told the court two of the three victims suffered such terrible injuries they were "difficult to explain as anything other than sadistic in nature."
She further noted, according to the Telegraph, which live-blogged the court hearings, that post-mortem reports found Bebe suffered at least 122 sharp force injuries in the attack, while Elsie had at least 85.
The court also heard how Rudakubana had travelled by taxi from his home in Banks, Lancashire, five miles away to the Hart Space in Southport, where 26 girls were attending the "Taylor Swift Yoga and Dance Workshop" event, which instructor Leanne Lucas had advertised on Instagram.
The prosecutor said the group was making friendship bracelets and singing Swift songs when the killer entered the room wearing a surgical face mask and bright green hoodie while brandishing a kitchen knife.
Merseyside Police
"Without saying a word, he grabbed the child nearest to him from behind and put his arm around her" Heer told the court, per The Telegraph, "At first, Leanne Lucas thought he was there to collect her, but he then moved on to a second child and then a third, Alice Da Silva Aguiar."
She continued, "He moved quickly through the room without saying anything. It was only when he reached her and she felt a knife go into her back, that Leanne Lucas realized he was armed and stabbing the children."
According to authorities, Rudakubana expressed no remorse for the attack, with Heer also telling the court that after the attack, while in police custody, he said, "It’s a good thing those children are dead, I’m so glad, I’m so happy."
According to authorities, Rudakubana expressed no remorse for the attack, with Heer also telling the court that after the attack, while in police custody, he said, "It’s a good thing those children are dead, I’m so glad, I’m so happy."
On behalf of Rudakubana, his attorney Stanley Reiz admitted, "For offences of such wickedness, the mitigation I can provide on behalf of the defendant is limited."
Watch : Taylor Swift “Completely in Shock” After Mass Stabbing Attack at Themed Event
“No psychiatric evidence suggests a mental disorder contributed to the defendant’s actions,” the attorney, who noted that after his client had difficulties in school was diagnosed with autism, continued. “He did make a transition from a normal, well disciplined child to someone capable of committing such shocking and senseless acts of violence."
As he emphasized, "His time in primary school and the first two years of secondary school were unremarkable. Something changed in him when he reached the age of 13."
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Taylor Swift “Completely in Shock” After Stabbing Attack at Themed Event in England
The U.K. government has confirmed plans to launch an inquiry into the attack.
“What happened in Southport was an atrocity and as the judge has stated, this vile offender will likely never be released,” Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a Jan. 23 statement. “After one of the most harrowing moments in our country’s history we owe it to these innocent young girls and all those affected to deliver the change that they deserve.”
Swift herself had expressed condolences to the victims soon after the attack.
“The horror of yesterday’s attack in Southport is washing over me continuously, and I’m just completely in shock,” she wrote on her Instagram Stories July 30. “The loss of life and innocence, and the horrendous trauma inflicted on everyone who was there, the families, and first responders.”
“These were just little kids at a dance class,” she continued. “I am at a complete loss for how to ever convey my sympathies to these families.”
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