Home news Southport attacks: Axel Rudakubana removed from court during sentencing | Southport attack

Southport attacks: Axel Rudakubana removed from court during sentencing | Southport attack

9
0

Axel Rudakubana taken out of court after shouting over the prosecution

His barrister, Stanley Reiz KC, said Rudakubana is having chest pains. There is no sympathy in the court for the killer and Mr Justice Goose has said proceedings will continue.

“I can’t continue with this!” Rudakubana yells over the prosecutor.

The judge said he has chosen the moment the proceedings have started to kick up a fuss.

“I didn’t choose this moment to feel pain. It’s not my fault,” shouts Rudakubana.

The prosecutor tries to talk, after being urged to continue by the judge.

Rudakubana shouts, “DON’T CONTINUE!” over the prosecutor.

Mr Justice Goose says: “Take him out.”

He will be brought back in after the break.

“I won’t have him disrupting.”

Share

Updated at 

Key events

Rudakubana can be seen to enter the Hart Space. There is a pause, loud screaming can then be heard and children can be seen running from the building.

The prosecutor has warned the next clip is distressing.

Share

Updated at 

Footage of Rudakubana in the taxi on the way to the attack is played. He asks the taxi driver which building it is. He leaves the vehicle without paying and the taxi driver can be heard shouting after him: “Oi! You’ve not paid mate. What are you doing?”

Share

The court is shown pictures from CCTV of Rudakubana wearing a green hoodie with the hood up, black trousers, trainers and a covid-style face mask to hide his identity.

Pictures of the Hart Space are also being shown, a white two-story building on a residential street. There is a floorplan with the location of the children at the start of the incident marked.

Share

CCTV footage and pathological evidence is about to be played to the court. Members of the public who do not want to be present for that have been invited to leave the courtroom.

Share

Deanna Heer KC explains how the children fled from the building, with some of the attacks occurring outside.

Some of the details of the children’s injuries are distressing. The families have asked the press not to go into too much detail about what happened to the children.

Share

Heidi Liddle, another dance teacher who survived, described hiding in a toilet with one of the children and feeling the door rattle, but it did not open because she had her foot against it.

Share

Deanna Heer KC continues going through the timeline of events.

She explains Rudakubana took a taxi to the Hart Space, where the dance class happened. Within 30 seconds of him going into the building, screams could be heard coming from inside.

The children were making bracelets at the time he entered. Leanne Lucas, a dance teacher who survived the attack recalled that without saying a word, he grabbed the child nearest to him from behind and put an arm around her. He moved on to a second child and then a third, Alice. It was only when he approached her and stabbed her that she realised what was happening.

Share

Updated at 

Axel Rudakubana taken out of court after shouting over the prosecution

His barrister, Stanley Reiz KC, said Rudakubana is having chest pains. There is no sympathy in the court for the killer and Mr Justice Goose has said proceedings will continue.

“I can’t continue with this!” Rudakubana yells over the prosecutor.

The judge said he has chosen the moment the proceedings have started to kick up a fuss.

“I didn’t choose this moment to feel pain. It’s not my fault,” shouts Rudakubana.

The prosecutor tries to talk, after being urged to continue by the judge.

Rudakubana shouts, “DON’T CONTINUE!” over the prosecutor.

Mr Justice Goose says: “Take him out.”

He will be brought back in after the break.

“I won’t have him disrupting.”

Share

Updated at 

Rudakubana has interrupted proceedings by shouting “I need to speak to a paramedic because I feel ill!” a number of times, adding: “I’m not gonna remain quiet.”

His barrister said there had been some concerns about his heath in prison, as he had refused to eat for a number of days and has drunk very little. But he was found fit to attend the hearing this morning.

Share

Attack was ‘premeditated’ and ‘sadistic in nature’, says Deanna Heer KC for the prosecution

Prosecutor Deanna Heer KC is reading the facts of the case. She said he carried out a “premeditated, planned attack” that was “sadistic in nature”.

A number of weapons were recovered from his home, including ricin that he had produced, as well as a terror manual.

Having watched videos of atrocities, he “set out to emulate them”, she said.

He later said it was “a good thing” the children had died.

Share

Updated at 

A reminder of the charges, which are currently being read in court: three counts of murder, 10 of attempted murder, possession of a knife, producing the poison ricin and possession of a terrorist manual. Rudakubana has pleaded guilty to all of them.

Share

Rudakubana is bending his head forward so only the very top of his head can be seen. Staff have confirmed to the judge that it is him.

Share

Rudakubana is in the dock and Mr Justice Goose is now sitting.

Share

It is unclear what is causing the delay but Rudakubana has still not arrived in the dock 45 minutes after the hearing was due to begin.

The judge will normally not enter the courtroom until all parties are at their seats.

Members of the public, press and the key members of the legal counsel all appear to be present at this point. The delay appears to be with the offender.

The courtroom is silent, bar the occasional whispered exchange between barristers.

Share

source

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here