Teen receives over 50-year sentence for killing three girls at Taylor Swift-themed dance class in England

LONDON — An 18-year-old has been sentenced to over 50 years in prison for the brutal stabbing of three young girls during a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in England, a crime that a judge described as “the most extreme, shocking and exceptionally serious” act. Judge Julian Goose indicated that Axel Rudakubana had intended to carry out mass murder against “innocent, happy young girls.”

Despite the heinous nature of the crime, the judge noted that he was unable to impose a life sentence without the possibility of parole due to Rudakubana’s age at the time of the offense. He will serve a minimum of 52 years, minus the six months he has already spent in custody, before being eligible for parole, although the judge expressed doubts he would ever be released.

Rudakubana was 17 when he launched his attack in Southport, claiming the lives of Alice Da Silva Aguiar, 9, Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, and Bebe King, 6. In addition to these fatalities, he injured eight other girls aged 7 to 13, along with a dance teacher, Leanne Lucas, and John Hayes, a local businessman who tried to intervene.

The incident sent shockwaves through the nation, prompting a reevaluation of security measures and discussions about the failures of authorities in preventing such a tragedy. A public inquiry has been announced to investigate how multiple warnings about Rudakubana’s violent tendencies were overlooked.

During the court proceedings on Thursday, Rudakubana didn’t listen to the sentencing while he claimed illness, demanding to see a paramedic. Despite being present initially, he was soon excused from the courtroom after disrupting the proceedings, which continued in his absence.

The attack occurred on the first day of summer holidays, when 26 young girls were gathered to make bracelets and sing along to songs. Armed with a large knife, Rudakubana entered the Hart Space venue and began his assault. Footage showed him arriving by taxi and soon leading to chaos as screams filled the air and children fled in terror. Notably, one girl survived despite being stabbed 32 times.

In her statements, prosecutor Deanna Heer highlighted the particularly grotesque nature of the injuries inflicted, noting that two of the deceased girls had sustained horrific wounds associated with sadistic intent. One girl endured 122 injuries, while another had 85.

Heer pointed out Rudakubana’s long-standing fascination with violence, indicating his sole objective was to kill defenseless children. In a chilling revelation, upon his arrest, he expressed pleasure about the killings, showing no remorse for his actions. The aftermath of the stabbings also triggered a wave of anti-immigrant violence, spurred by misinformation regarding Rudakubana’s background.

Born in Cardiff to Rwandan Christian parents, his motivations remain unclear, though investigators have noted a disturbing interest in brutal historical events and violent ideologies. In the lead-up to the attack, Rudakubana was referred multiple times to authorities expressing violent fantasies, yet the warnings went unheeded.

In 2019, he had called a children’s advice hotline to inquire about the ramifications of wanting to kill someone. Following that call, he had been involved in an assault at school. Additionally, he was previously referred to the government’s anti-extremism program based on alarming behaviors and interests, but was deemed not a terrorism risk due to a lack of identifiable political or religious motives.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer remarked on the necessity to confront what he termed a new threat posed by individuals like Rudakubana, urging systemic changes in the wake of such devastating acts.

In court, survivors and victims’ families shared heart-wrenching testimonies of the lasting impact the attack has had on their lives. Leanne Lucas, the dance instructor, reflected on her anguish as both a witness and a survivor, while one of the survivors poignantly condemned Rudakubana, expressing a hope that he would be tormented by the knowledge of how he is perceived: as a coward.

The mother of Alice Da Silva Aguiar lamented that their family of three was now a family of two, a reminder of the void left by her child’s untimely and tragic death. “Alice was our purpose for living, so what do we do now?” she mourned, capturing the profound despair left in the wake of such an atrocious crime.