Southport killer Axel Rudakubana is manipulating system, victims’ families say

Families of the victims of Axel Rudakubana, who murdered three young girls, accuse him of manipulating the justice system after his transfer from a high-security prison to a psychiatric hospital. Rudakubana, 19, received a life sentence with a minimum of 52 years for the murders of Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, Bebe King, six, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, in July 2022.

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The three families we represent have been made aware of this development in the last 48 hours and it is safe to say that whilst this news would devastate them at any time, the fact that this has occurred as we approach the second anniversary in our view is another move by AR who would appear to be attempting, once again, to manipulate the system.

He was moved from Belmarsh prison to Broadmoor, a high-security psychiatric hospital, after prison officials concluded he could not be managed safely within the prison environment. This transfer occurs shortly before the second anniversary of the attack, which took place at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class. The move does not affect his 52-year sentence.

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We have been given the barest of details and whilst we are supporting the families through this we are urgently seeking a meeting with the appropriate authorities to understand the situation before commenting further.

Chris Walker, representing the bereaved families, stated that the news is devastating and views the timing, near the anniversary, as another attempt by Rudakubana to "manipulate the system." The families are urgently seeking a meeting with authorities to understand the situation. Similar sentiments were echoed by the Prison Officers’ Association chair, Mark Fairhurst, who criticized the transfer, suggesting Rudakubana will now "enjoy the freedoms that are afforded mentally unwell patients" and that his members will be placed at risk.

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This vile offender has played the system and will now enjoy the freedoms that are afforded mentally unwell patients in secure psychiatric hospitals, including benefits that law-abiding taxpayers will fund.

Rudakubana's past includes attacking eight other children, the class instructor, and a businessman who intervened. He was also convicted of producing the toxin ricin and possessing an al-Qaida training manual. Previously, he had been under the care of Alder Hey children’s NHS foundation trust between 2019 and 2023, having been referred after bringing a knife to school. He was also referred to the counter-extremism program Prevent.

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My members will be placed at risk without the protections afforded to staff in prisons because he is now classed as a patient. He should spend his entire sentence in a prison in solitary confinement.