Teenager accused of stabbing three girls to death in Southport pleads not guilty to charges

Axel Rudakubana is accused of murdering three children in a knife attack in Southport. Credit: PA images

An 18-year-old accused of murdering three children in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Axel Rudakubana failed to speak at Liverpool Crown Court when faced with the three counts of murder and 10 counts of attempted murder following the attack in Southport.

He also did not speak when charged with possession of a knife, production of biological ricin, and possession of information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing to commit an act of terrorism.

Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, died following the attack at The Hart Space on a small business park in the seaside town shortly before midday on 29 July.

Elsie Dot Stancombe, Bebe King and Alice da Silva Aguiar were killed in a knife attack in July. Credit: PA Images

The attempted murder charges relate to eight children, who cannot be named for legal reasons, instructor Leanne Lucas and businessman John Hayes.

About 15 family members, including Alice’s parents, were in the public gallery for the hearing.

Unlike previous hearings Rudakubana, who was 17 at the time of the attack, did not cover his face with his sweatshirt during the hearing.

Instead, he sat slightly hunched, looking straight ahead at the camera on the videolink from HMP Belmarsh.

Wearing a grey sweatshirt, with his hands on his lap, twitching, the defendant occasionally looked around the room.

Mr Justice Goose twice asked him if he could hear proceedings from Liverpool Crown Court at the start of the hearing but Rudakubana did not respond.

A prison officer with Rudakubana then confirmed audio could be heard in the room the defendant was seated in.

Flowers and balloons left for the victims of the Southport attack. Credit: PA Images

The judge then asked the clerk of the court to put each of the charges to the defendant, but each time Rudakubana did not respond.

Mr Justice Goose, after each charge, or count, was put to Rudakubana without response, ordered the clerk to enter a not guilty plea on his behalf.

During this process, taking around four minutes for all of the 16 charges to be put to him, Rudakubana began moving his head in a swaying motion from side to side and occasionally looked around, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees, blinking.

The terrorism offence relates to a PDF file entitled Military Studies In The Jihad Against The Tyrants, The Al Qaeda Training Manual, which he is said to have possessed between August 29 2021 and July 30 2024.

The ricin, a deadly poison, and the document were found during searches of the home on Old School Close that he shared with his parents, who were originally from Rwanda.

Rudakubana last appeared in court in November, when the case was adjourned.

A trial date has been set for 20 January, with the case expected to last four to six weeks.