Identity of Southport stabbing suspect revealed as he appears in court accused of murdering three girls

A 17-year-old boy accused of murdering three children at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club in Southport has been named.

The recorder of Liverpool Andrew Menary KC ruled the defendant can be named as Axel Rudakubana during a hearing on Thursday.

The teenager is also charged with 10 counts of attempted murder and possession of a bladed article – described in court as a kitchen knife with a curved blade – following the mass stabbing on Monday.

Six-year-old Bebe King and seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe were pronounced dead shortly after the incident, while nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar died from her injuries in hospital on Tuesday.

Eight more children were injured, including five left fighting for their lives in hospital. Two adults were also in critical condition.

The teenager’s identity had previously not been revealed due to his age. However, a judge overturned reporting restrictions at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday.

The suspect, who was born in Cardiff before his family moved to Banks, Lancashire, is due to turn 18 next Wednesday.

Confirming he could be named, Judge Menary said: “Continuing to prevent full reporting at this stage has the disadvantage of allowing others who are up to mischief to continue to spread misinformation in a vacuum and runs the risk that when the information becomes publicly available in six days’ time, that will provide an additional excuse for a fresh round of public disorder.

“Allowing full reporting will undoubtedly remove some of the misreporting as to the identity of the defendant.”

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.”

The decision comes after violent disorder broke out in several locations across the country following the tragedy, with skirmishes in Southport on Tuesday and more than 100 people arrested at a protest in Whitehall on Wednesday night.

The judge said he had to balance risk to the defendant’s family and him while in custody with the public interest in accurately reporting his identity to quell misinformation fuelling disorder.

The defendant refused to speak to confirm his name to the judge during the brief hearing.

Dressed in a grey tracksuit and black slippers he kept his head down and silently rocked back and forth in the dock.

He was remanded into custody in a youth detention centre to appear at a plea and trial preparation hearing on 25 October.

Earlier on Thursday the teenager appeared in the dock at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court for a preliminary hearing.

He looked at the row of reporters sitting behind the glass dock before he was asked to sit down.

The 17-year-old used his left hand to pull his sweatshirt over his face above his nose and kept his head low during the five-minute hearing, in which he did not speak.

The boy was charged with the attempted murder of two adults who were named as Leanne Lucas and John Hayes, as well as the attempted murder of eight children who cannot be named for legal reasons.

He is also accused of possessing a kitchen knife with a curved blade. The teenager was arrested shortly after the attack.

Remanding him in custody at a youth detention centre, district Judge James Horton said: “You are charged with violent offences.”

He later added: “You will appear at crown court, sitting at Liverpool later on today before a more senior judge who will make further direction and determinations in this case.”

Announcing he had been charged on Thursday, chief constable of Merseyside Police Serena Kennedy said: “A 17-year old-boy from Banks has been charged with the murders of Bebe, Elsie Dot and Alice, 10 counts of attempted murder and possession of a bladed article following the tragic incident in Southport on Monday July 29.

“The 17-year-old cannot be named for legal reasons as he’s under 18.

“He has been remanded in custody to appear (today), Thursday August 1, at Liverpool Magistrates Court, Derby Square.

“Whilst these charges are a significant milestone within this investigation, this remains very much a live investigation and we continue to work with our partners from Lancashire Police and counterterrorism police in the North West.”