Axel Rudakubana has pleaded guilty to the Southport murders
The trial started earlier this morning amidst a slew of dire warnings from the police, the Attorney General and the Home Secretary to be careful what we plebs say in the next few weeks. Then a rumour that he was not going to offer any defence so leaving it to the prosecution to prove (not uncommon in grooming for rape gang trials).
I was reassured by the Liverpool Echo’s (main local newspaper) report that their reporter had secured a coveted place in court and the rest of the press were accommodated in rooms with a video connection; I feared they would self-censor and a D-Notice would operate.
Anyway, he suddenly entered guilty pleas to everything and will be sentenced on Thursday. From the Liverpool Echo, the Guardian and the Telegraph
He appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday morning to stand trial for the offences dressed in a grey prison issue tracksuit and wearing a surgical mask over his face.
Rudakubana is asked to speak his name again but remains silent.
Mr Reiz: “The defendant hasn’t identified himself but there isn’t any dispute that the man in the dock is Axel Rudakubana and he can hear what’s being said.”
Mr Justice Goose: “He’s not choosing to speak.”
Mr Reiz: “That’s correct.”
Mr Reiz asks for the indictment to be put again.
Rudakubana has pleaded guilty to the murder of Elsie Dot Stancombe.
Rudakubana has pleaded guilty to the murder of of Bebe King.
Rudakubana has pleaded guilty to the murder of Alice da Silva Aguair.
Axel Rudakubana has also pleaded to eight counts of attempted murder in relation to eight other children, who cannot be named.
He has also pleaded guilty to the attempted murders of Leanne Lucas and Jonathan Hayes.
Rudakubana has also pleaded guilty to possession of a bladed article in a public place, namely a kitchen knife with a curved blade.
He has also pleaded guilty to production of a biological toxin, namely ricin, and possession of information of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, namely a PDF file entitled “Military Studies in the Jihad Against the Tyrants: The Al-Qaeda Training Manual”.
Axel Rudakubana will now be sentenced at the same court on Thursday this week.
Justice Goose addresses the defence: “Is there any other material you want to place before the court other than your note?”
Mr Reiz replies: “Not a psychiatric report. There is considerable material about the defendant’s mental health before these offences were committed.”
The defence silk adds that they will now consider whether this will be put before the court during the sentencing hearing.
Justice Goose: “There are previous incidents that may be relevant.”
Mr Reiz:: “Yes my lord.”
Rudakubana is sat hunched over in the dock and cannot be seen from the press seats in court.
Justice Goose: “Axel Rudakubana you can hear me I know. You have now pleaded guilty to this indictment to each of the charges upon it. The next stage is for sentence. That will take place on Thursday. In the meantime you must keep in touch with your barristers, solicitors and the intermediary in order for you to receive any advice or assistance. You will understand it’s inevitable that a life sentence will be imposed upon you. In the meantime, you go with the officers and be produced at that hearing at 11 o’clock on Thursday. Take him down.”
Rudakubana is escorted to the cell by the dock officers.
The teenager who murdered three young girls at a dance class in Southport was referred three times to Prevent, the government’s scheme to stop terrorist violence, the Guardian has learned.
One of the referrals followed concerns about Axel Rudakubana’s potential interest in the killing of children in a school massacre, it is understood.
His behaviour, including his apparent interest in violence, was assessed by Prevent as potentially concerning. But he was deemed not to be motivated by a terrorist ideology or pose a terrorist danger and was therefore not considered suitable for the counter-radicalisation scheme.
Police say that despite extensive searches and investigation there is no evidence of a terrorist motivation for the Southport attack carried out by Rudakubana during a Taylor Swift-themed dance class.
Multiple sources confirmed Rudakubana’s referral to Prevent to the Guardian.
So whatever is being covered up by the authorities, and believe me the statements and warnings issued over the weekend show that they are worried, may not be extracted under cross-examination in open court after all.