Southport killer Axel Rudakubana’s sentence not unduly lenient, attorney general says

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Southport killer Axel Rudakubana’s sentence was not unduly lenient and will not be referred to the Court of Appeal, the attorney general has said. open image in gallery Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Alice da Silva Aguiar were murdered by Rudakubana in Southport But following multiple requests for the sentence to be reviewed, attorney general Lord Hermer KC responded on Friday night that he would not be referring the case to the Court of Appeal. “My thoughts today are with the friends and families of Bebe, Elsie and Alice, as well as the other victims – your memories will not be forgotten.” Rudakubana killed nine-year-old Alice da Silva Aguiar, Bebe King, aged six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, while attempting to murder eight other children who cannot be named for legal reasons, along with class instructor Leanne Lucas and businessman John Hayes. open image in gallery Flowers and tributes near the scene in Hart Street, Southport, where three children died and eight were injured in the knife attack Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer said at the time that the “vile offender will likely never be released”, and noted that it is not permissible under international law to imprison people for life in relation to crimes committed as a minor.