Southport killer Axel Rudakubana gloated he was ‘glad they’re dead’ after murders

Remorseless Axel Rudakubana appeared to gloat about his murderous attack after he was heard muttering he was “glad” his child victims were dead.

Prosecutor Deanna Heer KC revealed the knifeman, who murdered three girls and wounded ten people in a horrific mass stabbing at a Taylor Swift-themed children’s holiday class in Southport, was heard making the sinister comments in police custody after his arrest.

Opening the sentencing hearing at Liverpool Crown Court, Ms Heer said the killer was heard to say: “It’s a good thing those children are dead… I am so glad… I am so happy.”

Rudakubana was twice removed from the dock within hours, after shouting over the prosecutor.

A few minutes into his sentencing hearing on Thursday, he called out: “I haven’t eaten for 10 days. I feel ill. I’m not going to remain quiet.”

The judge Mr Justice Goose told the defendant to be quiet and instructed proceedings to continue, but he was removed from the dock after he continued to interrupt.

One family member shouted “coward” as he was led away by dock officers.

The second time, after a lunch break, the killer interrupted the prosecutor again, shouting: “Judge, judge I feel really ill I need to be seen by a paramedic.”

Mr Justice Goose ordered him from the dock and told the hearing Rudakubana has been seen by two teams of paramedics “who deem he’s fit”.

The court heard that Rudakubana’s killings were a “pre-meditated, planned knife attack upon multiple victims, principally young girls, intending to kill them”.

Ms Heer said the horrific injuries suffered by the victims were “difficult to explain as anything other than sadistic in nature”.

She told the court Rudakubana remained silent in police interview, but in custody made a number of “unsolicited comments” including, “I don’t care, I’m feeling neutral,” and “So happy, six years old. It’s a good thing they are dead, yeah.”

In October 2019 he he contacted Childline and asked, “What should I do if I want to kill somebody?” the court was told.

The violence-obsessed 18-year-old pleaded guilty to all 16 offences he faced on the first day of his trial on Monday.

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

The killer admitted their murders as well as the attempted murders of eight other children, who cannot be named for legal reasons, and class instructor Leanne Lucas and businessman John Hayes.

Cardiff-born Rudakubana further pleaded guilty to possessing a knife which he bought on Amazon, production of the biological toxin ricin, and possession of a document which contained al-Qaeda training material.

He is not expected to receive a whole-life order because he was 17 at the time of the attack. The sentence can normally only be imposed on criminals aged 21 or over and is usually only considered for those aged 18 to 20 in exceptional circumstances.

Officers found violent content on Rudakubana’s devices, including images of dead bodies, victims of torture, beheadings, cartoons depicting killing, violence and rape or which mocked religions including Islam, Judaism and Christianity, the court heard.

The prosecutor said there were numerous images relating to wars and conflicts, including in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, Korea, Iraq and the Balkans.

The sentencing hearing continues.

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