The parent called Rudakubana a “ticking timebomb” after it was revealed he was referred to Prevent three times between 2019 and 2021.Southport killer Axel Rudakubana has been told to “rot in jail” by one of his victim’s parents who urged the judge to show no mercy.
The attacker will be sentenced today at Liverpool Crown Court after pleading guilty to mudering Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven.The 17-year-old cannot be handed a whole life sentence for the stabbings at a Taylor Swift themed dance class last July as he is not old enough. He will be handed down a minimum term, likely starting at 30 years.But one the victim’s parents, whose child was left needing surgery after the attack, has called for the rules to be changed as Rudakubana was only 13 days from his 18th birthday.They said: “Axel should rot in jail. He was only a few days off his 18th birthday when he committed these most horrendous offences.
“Why should he be spared a whole life tariff when he hasn’t spared a thought for any of the victims’ families? Life should mean life.
“Even if he gets 40 years, it’s not enough. He could be out to enjoy the latter part of his life. The three little girls he murdered can’t do that. If that means the law needs changing, so be it.”He’s an adult and should be tried like one. His crimes are so horrific, an exception should be made by the judge.”
The parent, who cannot be named in order to protect their child, also slammed the Government, police, schools, and anti-terror agency Prevent for their “systemic failure”.
They called Rudakubana a “ticking timebomb” after it was revealed he was referred to Prevent three times between 2019 and 2021 for expressing an interest in violence.
They said: “This day didn’t need to happen if people in his past dealt with the problem when presented with it.
“There were several chances to stop this horrific outcome, so the blame ultimately lands with every organisation that came across him. It’s one massive failure of people.”
The heartbroken parent added that their child is struggling “mentally” after the attack and revealed Rudakubana’s lack of remorse when appearing in court, even refusing to stand up when pleading guilty.
They said: “He only changed his plea in the hope of getting a reduction in his sentence. It was to try to save his own skin.”
The parent said they supported the public inquiry into the attack and a crackdown on online knife sales announced by Sir Keir Starmer after it was discovered Rudakubana bought his weapon on Ama
zon.