Warning: This story contains details of violence against young children.
A British judge sentenced a teenager who killed three young girls to a minimum of 52 years in prison on Thursday, after the killer was removed from the dock because he had suspended his sentence.
Axel Rudakubana, 18, admitted on Monday to carrying out the killings of Baby King, 6, Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, and Alice DaSilva Aguiar, 9, last July in the town of Southport in northern England, a brutal operation followed by days of repression. Nationwide riots.
Prosecutor Diana Hare previously told Liverpool Crown Court that two of his victims had suffered “horrific injuries… that are difficult to explain as anything other than sadism”.
“I am happy that these children are dead, it makes me happy,” Rudakupana told police after the attack.
Rudakopana also pleaded guilty to 10 counts of attempted murder, as well as producing the deadly poison ricin and possessing an Al Qaeda training manual. Eight of the ten victims who suffered non-fatal injuries were also children.
The prosecutor also said that Al Qaeda’s training manual contained advice on killing with a knife, but that Rudakupana was not inspired by any political or religious ideology.
The children were attending a Taylor Swift-themed dance party, but there was no indication the attacker knew details of what happened at Heartspace in Southport.
Judge Julian Goss said the fact that Rudakupana was nine days away from his 18th birthday at the time prevented him under British law from imposing a “life” sentence, but he expressed confidence that he was unlikely to be released.
The killer’s sentences for the various crimes are concurrent.
Explained previous disruptive behavior
Two of the girls sustained at least 85 and 122 blunt force injuries, which Rudakupana inflicted with a 20cm-long knife he bought online from Amazon under an alias, Hare said.
She described the horror scene, as the court showed video footage of young girls screaming and running from the building. A bloodied girl was seen collapsing outside, sparking gasps and sobs in the public gallery.
Hare said photos and documents found on a computer at his home showed he “had a long-standing obsession with violence, murder and genocide.”
The prosecutor said that in 2019, Rudakopana called the Children’s Helpline and asked: “What should I do if I want to kill someone?”
Shortly after, he was expelled from the school after admitting to having a knife there 10 times, Herr said, and was later caught with a knife in his backpack after returning to school and attacking a student with a hockey stick.
Shortly after his sentencing hearing began, Rudakopana was taken from the dock after repeatedly shouting that he was not feeling well. “Coward,” someone shouted as he left.
The UK government wants social media companies to do more to stop the spread of misinformation after it spread on platforms like X and sparked violent protests.
The killings were followed by riots across the country that led to dozens of arrests. Misinformation spread online that incorrectly stated that Rudakupana was a refugee and a Muslim.
The teenager was born in Cardiff, Wales, to parents originally from Rwanda.
https://i.cbc.ca/1.7439263.1737641507!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/16x9_1180/southport-stabbing-victims-composite.jpg?im=Resize%3D620
Source link