The teenager accused of killing three girls in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class has appeared in court.
Axel Rudakubana, 18, is charged with the murders of Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, who died following the stabbings at The Hart Space in Southport, Merseyside, shortly before midday on July 29.
Cardiff-born Rudakubana, who was 17 at the time, is also charged with the attempted murder of eight other children, who cannot be named for legal reasons, along with instructor Leanne Lucas and businessman John Hayes.
He appeared at Liverpool Crown Court for a plea and trial preparation hearing this afternoon.
Mr Justice Goose told the court the defendant had “chosen” not to say anything and ordered a further preparatory hearing ahead of the trial to take place on December 12.
He added: It is important the court and the public know what the issues are in this trial and the 12th of December hearing will allow that.
As he remanded the defendant in custody, he addressed Rudakubana directly.
He said: Mr Rudakubana can you hear me? Just raise your hand if you can hear me. The defendant did not respond.
The judge continued: Well I know you can hear me because the officer behind you said I can be heard. You are next required to attend on the twelfth of December. Your trial will be listed for the 20th of January, with a time estimate of four to six weeks. Thank you.
Last month, Rudakubana appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court to face additional charges of production of a biological toxin, ricin, and possession of information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing to commit an act of terrorism.
Bebe King was one of the three children killed in a knife attack (Picture: Merseyside Police/PA)
Elsie Dot Stancombe was killed during a Taylor Swift event at a dance school in Southport (Picture: Merseyside Police/PA)
Nine-year-old victim Alice da Silva Aguiar (Picture: Merseyside Police/PA)The day after the attack, thousands of people turned out for a peaceful vigil in the town.
But a separate protest later erupted into violence, with misinformation on social media then fuelling further large scale riots in towns and cities across the UK, with asylum centre hotels in particular targeted.
More than 1,000 arrests have since been made and hundreds of people have been charged and jailed.
Although Rudakubana’s most recent charges come under the biological weapons and terrorism act, the knife attack has not been declared terror related.
Axel Rudakubana was 17 at the time of the fatal attack
Court artists sketch of Rudakubana appearing via video link at the Westminster Magistrates Court (Picture: Reuters)Merseyside Police’s Chief Constable Serena Kennedy previously said: ‘I recognise these new charges may lead to speculation.
‘The method by which Axel Rudakubana has been charged under the terror act does not require motive to be established.’
She urged people not to speculate online, adding the suspect had a ‘right to a fair trial’.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.