LONDON — On Friday, the UK government stated that it has no intention of amending legislation that prevents young individuals from receiving life sentences, despite extensive calls for the indefinite imprisonment of Axel Rudakubana, an 18-year-old responsible for the deaths of three young girls.
Rudakubana received a sentence of at least 52 years following a violent stabbing incident during a Taylor Swift-themed dance class. This ruling means he will not be eligible for parole until he reaches nearly 70 years of age, with Judge Julian Goose commenting that it is probable Rudakubana will never be freed.
The judge clarified during proceedings that, under current laws, he was unable to issue a life sentence without parole because Rudakubana was only 17 when he committed the offenses in the coastal town of Southport in July. The attack resulted in the deaths of 9-year-old Alice Da Silva Aguiar, 7-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe, and 6-year-old Bebe King. Additionally, he injured eight other girls, aged between 7 and 13, as well as two adults.
Patrick Hurley, a Labour Party MP for Southport, described the imposed sentence as “unduly lenient” and has formally requested the attorney general to reconsider it. He argued that the punishment should reflect the gravity of the crime that traumatized the victims and their families.
Opposition leader Kemi Badenoch from the Conservative Party expressed support for revising the law to allow for life sentences for individuals under 18. In contrast, the government cited international treaties, including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, as barriers to imposing life sentences or capital punishment on minors.
Tom Wells, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Keir Starmer, stated that legislative changes are not currently under consideration. However, he reaffirmed the judge’s remarks indicating that Rudakubana is unlikely to ever regain his freedom.
Calls have also emerged from two members of the right-wing party Reform UK to reintegrate the death penalty, which was abolished in Britain in 1969. Wells reiterated that the government has no intention of reinstating capital punishment in the country.
The horrendous attack in Southport has resonated deeply across the nation and incited incidents of anti-immigrant violence after far-right groups incorrectly reported that the assailant was an asylum seeker who had recently immigrated to the UK. Rudakubana, however, was born in Wales to Rwandan parents.
In response to the incident, the government has initiated a public inquiry to investigate the lapses in the system that allowed Rudakubana, who had previously been flagged multiple times for his violent tendencies, to evade serious consequences. He had previously been expelled from school for bringing a knife to class and had a record of assault for attacking a fellow student with a hockey stick.
During the sentencing hearing held at Liverpool Crown Court, the grieving families of the victims delivered powerful testimonies, illuminating the profound impact the attack has had on their lives. They conveyed their wish for Rudakubana to spend his life in prison.
“His actions have left us with a lifetime of grief, and it is only just that he endures the same,” stated Jenny Stancombe, mother of Elsie. “You know what you have done,” she added, addressing Rudakubana directly, “and we hope the burden of that knowledge haunts you every single day.”
