‘We hope it haunts you every day’: Southport families speak out at Axel Rudakubana’s sentencing

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. The court also heard from a number of survivors, including the Taylor Swift-themed dance class instructor Leanne Lucas, 36, who said she has suffered scars she “cannot move on from”. open image in gallery Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, died after the mass stabbing Family of Elsie Dot Stancombe Elsie’s mother, Jenny Stancombe, described the attack as “the act of a coward” and said Rudakubana was “cruel and pure evil”. “You know what you have done and we hope the weight of that knowledge haunts you every day.” open image in gallery Dashcam footage shows Rudakubana entering Hart Space in Southport, moments before he stabbed and killed three children and injured dozens of others Family of Alice da Silva Aguiar In a separate statement read out in court afterwards, Alexandra and Sergio Aguiar said their daughter Alice’s death had “shattered our souls”. We’ll keep them safe and often hug them when we miss Alice.” open image in gallery Axel Rudakubana was removed from the court on two occasions after claiming he was ill Dance class instructor Leanne Lucas Ms Lucas told of living in constant fear since the attack, unable to feel safe at work or in public places and said she can not give herself compassion or accept praise, adding: “How can I live knowing I survived when children died?” She said it left her unable to trust society, revealing the “badness” lurking in plain sight and altering her mindset to believe harm can happen to anyone.