On Thursday 23 January, at the Crown Court in Liverpool, Mr Justice Goose sentenced Axel Rudakubana (age 18) for the murders of three young children and 10 attempted murders (8 children and 2 adults).
In addition to the counts of murder and attempted murder, the judge imposed sentences on three further counts.
A count of possession
of a knife was part of the indictment from the outset. Radakubana had purchased the knife "online" 16 days before he used it in the killings.On 29 October 2024, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) added two further counts
Terrorism Act 2000 section 58 (Collection of Information)
The sentencing was carefully explained by the judge. There is no need to recount in this post the horrific details of the attack on the children's dance class. The judge described them as extreme violence of exceptionally high seriousness and the attack lasted for approximately 15 minutes prior to Police arriving and Radakubana being arrested.
The sentencing took place with Radakubana removed from court because of his disruptive behaviour. This revived calls for offenders to be forced to be present and "face the music." Such calls arose after the Lucy Letby case but, to date, Parliament has not taken action on this and the idea contains obvious problems.
Rudakubana was sentenced to Custody for Life with a minimum term of 51 years and 190 days - (i.e. 52 years less time on remand).
In 2076 - (at age 69) - he will be eligible for release BUT ONLY if the Parole Board then considers him to be no further danger to the public. Any release - if it ever happens - will be on licence for the remainder of his life and he will be subject to recall to prison if the licence terms are breached.
Predictably, there have been calls to refer the sentence to the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) on the basis that some people consider it to be unduly lenient. Only the Attorney-General is empowered to make such a reference.
Terrorism?
The Terrorism Act 2000 defines "terrorism" as the use or threat of action where (a) the action falls within subsection (2), (b) the use or threat is designed to influence the government or an international governmental organisation or to intimidate the public or a section of the public, and (c) the use or threat is made for the purpose of advancing a political, religious, racial or ideological cause.
The judge said that the prosecution had decided that Radakubana's actions were not acts of terrorism within the meaning of the terrorism legislation. The judge added that he "must accept that conclusion" even though the violence was equivalent to terrorist murders.
Political action
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper MP - Home Secretary statement on Southport: 20 January 2025 - GOV.UK
Southport attack: next steps - GOV.UK
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer MP - 21 Jan - PM statement on the Southport public inquiry: 21 January 2025 - GOV.UK
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