Teenager charged with murdering three girls in Southport named as Axel Rudakubana

Summary

Seventeen-year-old Axel Rudak Cabana, set to turn 18 and lose his anonymity, faces 14 charges including multiple murders and attempted murders in Southport. The teenager appeared in court with heavy security, initially refusing to confirm his identity. The media requested his name be made public, citing public interest over his welfare. Judge Andrew Manter ruled in favor, allowing Cabana's name to be released, while restricting full reporting to prevent misinformation. A trial is tentatively scheduled for January, with a plea to be entered in October.

Takeaways

• 🚨 The defendant, Axel Rudak Cabana, is a 17-year-old British national born in Wales with Romanian heritage.
• 🗡️ Axel Rudak Cabana faces a total of 14 charges, including the possession of a kitchen knife with a curved blade.
• 🔪 He is charged with the murders of three individuals: BB King Elsie Do Stanham, Elise Agar.
• ⚔️ There are also charges of attempted murder against eight other young children and a yoga teacher named Lean Lucas.
• 🤺 The incidents occurred during a holiday dance and yoga class in Southport on a Monday.
• 🏢 An attempted murder charge also exists against a businessman, John Hayes.
• 👨‍⚖️ The judge, Andrew Maner, allowed Axel Rudak Cabana to be named in the media due to the public interest in the case.
• 🔍 The court considered the balance between the defendant's welfare and the public's interest before deciding to lift anonymity.
• 🚫 The youth justice team and the police had concerns about the defendant's safety and the potential for public tension.
• 📅 A provisional trial date has been set for January, with a court appearance scheduled for October for plea decisions.
• 📺 The report was delivered by Martin Brunt of Sky News Liverpool.

Q & A

Who is the defendant mentioned in the transcript?

The defendant is Axel Rudak Cabana, a 17-year-old British individual born in Wales.

What is the significance of the defendant's age in the context of the court proceedings?

At 17, he is considered a child and would normally not be identified publicly, but he will turn 18 next week, which is an adult in legal terms, allowing for his name to be disclosed.

How many charges does Axel Rudak Cabana face according to the transcript?

Axel Rudak Cabana faces 14 charges, including the most serious charge of murder.

What is the nature of the most serious charges against Axel Rudak Cabana?

The most serious charges are the murders of three individuals named BB King Elsie, Do Stanham, and Elise Agar.

What other crimes are Axel Rudak Cabana accused of, aside from murder?

He is also accused of attempted murders of eight other young children and a yoga teacher named Lean Lucas, as well as a businessman named John Hayes.

When and where did the attempted murders occur as described in the transcript?

The attempted murders occurred during a holiday dance and yoga class in Southport on Monday.

Why did the media request to lift the defendant's anonymity?

The media requested to lift the defendant's anonymity to balance the defendant's welfare against the public's interest in the case and to reduce the risk of misidentification of others.

What was the prosecutor's argument regarding the defendant's anonymity?

The prosecutor, Deanna, argued that naming the defendant would help avoid misidentification and potential violence towards others, as seen in recent disorder.

What was the youth justice team's stance on the defendant's anonymity?

The youth justice team wanted to keep his anonymity for his own welfare.

What decision did Judge Andrew Manter make regarding the defendant's anonymity?

Judge Andrew Manter decided to allow Axel Rudak Cabana to be named, considering it exceptional, but continued to prevent full reporting to avoid misinformation.

When is the next court appearance for Axel Rudak Cabana and what will happen then?

Axel Rudak Cabana will be back in court in October, where he will be asked if he wants to plead guilty or not guilty. A provisional trial date has been set for January.