Axel Rudakubana, the man serving a life sentence for the murders of three girls in Southport, is set to face trial next year over allegations he threw boiling water mixed with sugar at a prison officer.
Rudakubana, 20, appeared at the Old Bailey on Monday charged with attempting to cause grievous bodily harm to a male prison officer at Belmarsh prison in south London. The alleged incident took place on May 8 last year, when he reportedly threw the hot water through a hatch in his cell door.
Additional Charges and Court Appearance
He faces two further counts of assaulting an emergency worker, relating to incidents on May 6 and October 28 last year, as well as a charge of possession of an offensive weapon in prison on June 26 last year.
Appearing via videolink from Broadmoor hospital before Judge Mark Lucraft KC, Rudakubana wore a grey and black hoodie and was flanked by three hospital staff. He spoke only to confirm his identity and was not asked to enter pleas to the charges.
Trial Date Set
Judge Lucraft set a provisional two-week trial to begin on October 4 next year, with a further review hearing scheduled for February 5.
The allegations include that two days before the hot water incident, Rudakubana threatened to "soak" a female officer outside his cell if she did not pass him a newspaper, before allegedly throwing liquid at her. He is also accused of punching a male officer who challenged him on October 28.
Weapon Allegations
In June last year, sharpened stone shards, thought to have been prised from the floor of his cell, were allegedly found stuck to the underside of a shelving unit.
Rudakubana was charged on July 28, and the case was sent to the Old Bailey.
