Southport killer Axel Rudakubana was not present in court today as he refused to leave his cell for a hearing where his sentence was corrected.
Rudakubana has been caged for the murders of Bebe King, Elise Dot Stancombe and Alice Da Silva Aguiar last summer. The then 17-year-old went on a rampage stabbing to death the three little girls during a Taylor Swift themed dance class on July 29.
Due to “cowardly” courtroom outbursts the evil child killer was not present in the dock as he was handed a minimum of 52 years behind bars last month. As the Liverpool Echo reports, his horrific case was relisted before Liverpool Crown Court this morning, due to an error in the sentence passed by High Court judge Mr Justice Goose.
Appearing in court via video link, prosecution counsel Deanna Heer KC said: “My lord will recall that, on the 23rd of January this year, you sentenced the defendant Axel Rudakubana to an overall sentence of custody for life with a minimum term of 51 years and 190 days [52 years minus the period he had spent in custody before this date]. At the hearing, I submitted a sentencing note in which I erroneously submitted that the correct provision which needed to be given for the imposition of a life sentence was Section 275 of the Sentencing Act 2020.
“In fact, because he was under 18 at the time of the commission of the offence, it should have been Section 259 of the same act, a sentence of detention at his majesty’s pleasure. It is an error which is technical in nature, although it is important. It has no practical effect on either the nature of the sentence, it remains a life sentence, and it has no practical effect on the overall length of the minimum term.”
Justice Goose, who also attended remotely from Preston Crown Court, amended his sentence accordingly, telling the court: “This is a variation of sentence under Section 385 of the Sentencing Act 2020. The purpose of this hearing is to correct a technical error which will have no effect on the total sentence imposed on the defendant on the 23rd of January this year.
“The prosecution, in its sentencing note, suggested that a life sentence on counts one to three should have been custody for life. That was an error, such that I am asked to correct the sentence to detention at his majesty’s pleasure.
“Therefore, Axel Rudakubana will serve three detentions at his majesty’s pleasure on counts one to three and 10 sentences of custody for life on counts four to 13. The minimum term to be served in custody is 51 years and 190 days.”
Carmel Wilde, defending Rudakubana in person, meanwhile said that her client had refused to leave his cell at HMP Belmarsh in order to follow proceedings via video link. She added: “We understand from staff at Belmarsh that he has refused to leave his cell to attend court. The inevitable inference is that he has waived his right.”
Rudakubana pleaded guilty to murdering Bebe, Elsie and Alice. He further admitted attempting to murder eight other children, who cannot be named for legal reasons, and two adults, Ms Lucas and Mr Hayes.
Guilty pleas were also entered to charges of possession of a bladed article in a public place, production of a biological toxin and possession of information of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism. Rudakubana remained absent as he was ordered to spend at least 52 years behind bars before becoming eligible for release on licence.
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