dpa
London
A 17-year-old in Britain charged with the murder of three girls in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class has appeared in court, where a judge ruled he could be named.
Axel Rudakubana wore a grey tracksuit which he pulled up to cover much of his face when he appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday morning. The court heard Rudakubana will turn 18 next week.
After hearing an application from the prosecution, supported by the defence, as well as submissions from the media, Recorder of Liverpool Judge Andrew Menary KC said he would not impose an order under section 45 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999, which is used to give anonymity to those aged younger than 18 in the criminal courts.
Judge Menary said: “Continuing to prevent the full reporting has the disadvantage of allowing others to spread misinformation, in a vacuum.”
He added: “Whilst I accept it is exceptional, given his age, principally because he is 18 in six days’ time, I do not make an order under section 45.”
Rudakubana, who lived with his Rwandan parents and has a brother, 20, is charged with the murder of Alice Dasilva Aguiar, 9, Bebe King, 6, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, in Southport, England on Monday.
He is also charged with the attempted murder of yoga class instructor Leanne Lucas and businessman John Hayes and eight children, who cannot be named for legal reasons, as well as with possession of a kitchen knife with a curved blade.
Meanwhile, Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said “action will be taken” following “violent disorder” in parts of England in the wake of the Southport stabbings.
The prime minister summoned police chiefs to Downing Street on Thursday afternoon following scenes of violent unrest in London, Hartlepool and Manchester overnight, while a demonstration in Aldershot saw a tense stand-off with riot police.
At the meeting, he told the senior officers: “I wanted to send a message to each of you and, through you, your officers to say that this Government supports the police, supports what you are doing, and to be absolutely clear: This is not protest, this is violent disorder and action will be taken.
“This Government will make sure you have got the powers you need and will back you in using those powers.” Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood and policing minister Dame Diana Johnson also attended the meeting with the police leaders.
They included Scotland Yard Deputy Commissioner Dame Lynne Owens, Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist, National Crime Agency chief Robert Jones, director of public prosecutions Stephen Parkinson and His Majesty’s Chief Inspector Andy Cooke.
During the 55-minute court hearing, the teenager, who was born in Cardiff but later moved to Old School Close, a few kilometres from where the attack took place, put his head down inside his grey sweatshirt and at times was seen rocking back and forth and side to side.
He will next appear back at Liverpool Crown Court on October 25 for a plea hearing.
A provisional trial date, lasting six weeks, was scheduled for January 20 next year.
Judge Menary told the defendant: “You are remanded to youth detention accommodation until these proceedings have been completed.”
