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

Sky News

1 Aug 202402:20

Summary

TLDRSeventeen-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.

Outlines

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🏢 Court Appearance of Teenage Defendant

A 17-year-old British defendant named Axel Rudak Cabana, born in Wales and of Randon heritage, made his court appearances for a series of serious charges, including multiple murders and attempted murders. The charges stem from violent incidents involving a kitchen knife, a holiday dance, and a yoga class in Southport. Despite normally being protected by child anonymity laws, the court was petitioned by the media to lift Cabana's anonymity due to his impending 18th birthday and the public interest in the case. The prosecutor argued that naming him would help prevent misidentification and potential violence towards others, while the youth justice team was concerned for his welfare. Judge Andrew Maner decided to allow Cabana to be named but restricted full reporting to prevent the spread of misinformation. Cabana is scheduled to return to court in October to enter a plea, with a provisional trial date set for January. The report was filed by Martin Brunt of Sky News Liverpool.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Security

Security in this context refers to the protective measures taken to safeguard an individual, especially in a high-risk or high-profile situation. The script mentions 'huge security' around the teenage defendant, indicating the seriousness of the case and the potential threat to the defendant's safety. This is crucial for understanding the gravity of the situation and the potential public interest in the case.

💡Defendant

A defendant is a person accused of a crime and against whom legal proceedings are brought. In the script, the teenage defendant is central to the narrative, as they are facing multiple serious charges. The term is used to highlight the legal status of the individual in question and the focus of the court proceedings.

💡Anonymity

Anonymity refers to the state of being unidentified or unnamed. The script discusses the defendant's anonymity, which is a legal protection for minors to prevent public identification. The debate over whether to maintain this anonymity is a key point in the narrative, as it involves balancing the defendant's welfare with the public's interest in the case.

💡Murder

Murder is the unlawful and intentional killing of another human being. The script lists multiple murder charges against the defendant, including the murders of specific individuals. This term is central to understanding the severity of the crimes alleged and the potential consequences for the defendant.

💡Attempted Murder

Attempted murder is the act of trying to kill someone but failing to do so. The script mentions attempted murders of eight other young children and a yoga teacher, indicating the breadth of the alleged crimes. This term helps to convey the extent of the violence and the potential danger posed by the defendant.

💡Charges

Charges are accusations made against a person that they have committed a crime. The script specifies that the defendant faces 14 charges, including murder and attempted murder. Understanding the charges is essential for grasping the legal issues at stake in the case.

💡Magistrate

A magistrate is a judicial officer who has the authority to administer justice, typically at a lower level than a judge. The script mentions the defendant's appearance before a magistrate, which is part of the preliminary legal process. This term helps to explain the procedural steps in the judicial system.

💡Judge

A judge is a public official appointed to decide cases in a court of law. The script refers to a more senior judge who the defendant appears before after the magistrate. The role of the judge is pivotal in deciding on matters such as the defendant's anonymity and setting trial dates.

💡Public Interest

Public interest refers to the importance of matters that affect the well-being of the community or society at large. The script discusses the need to balance the defendant's welfare against the public interest in the case, highlighting the societal implications of the legal proceedings and the media's role.

💡Misidentification

Misidentification is the act of incorrectly identifying a person. The script mentions the risk of misidentifying others who might be subject to violence due to the case, emphasizing the potential consequences of releasing the defendant's identity and the importance of accurate reporting.

💡Youth Justice

Youth justice refers to the system of laws, policies, and practices that govern the treatment of young offenders. The script mentions a youth justice team wanting to keep the defendant's anonymity for his own welfare, indicating the specialized considerations for juveniles within the legal system.

💡Plea

A plea is a formal declaration made by a defendant in response to a criminal charge, typically either guilty or not guilty. The script states that the defendant will be asked to enter a plea in court in October, which is a critical step in the legal process and determines the path of the trial.

Highlights

A 17-year-old defendant, Axel Rudak Cabana, arrived at court with significant security measures.

The defendant was initially anonymous but was about to be publicly named.

Axel Rudak Cabana is British, born in Wales with a Romanian heritage.

Cabana faces 14 charges, including the possession of a kitchen knife with a curved blade.

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

Cabana is also charged with the attempted murders of eight other young children.

The children were stabbed during a holiday dance and yoga class in Southport.

He is also accused of attempting to murder a yoga teacher, Lean Lucas.

Additionally, he is charged with the attempted murder of a businessman, John Hayes.

Cabana made two court appearances, first before a magistrate and then a senior judge.

At 17, Cabana is legally a child and would not normally be identified, but he turns 18 next week.

The media requested the judge to lift Cabana's anonymity due to his upcoming adulthood.

The prosecutor argued that naming Cabana would reduce the risk of misidentification and potential violence.

The police and youth justice team opposed lifting anonymity, citing concerns for Cabana's welfare.

Judge Andrew Manter decided to allow Cabana to be named, citing the public's interest in the case.

The judge also noted that preventing full reporting could lead to the spread of misinformation.

Cabana is scheduled to return to court in October to enter a plea of guilty or not guilty.

A provisional trial date has been set for January.