The Southport killer, Axel Rudakubana, lied and manipulated authorities 26 times before carrying out the 2024 attack that killed three girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class, according to the Southport Inquiry.
Lies from age 13
Reports by Sir Adrian Fulford, chair of the inquiry, recorded at least 26 instances of the killer's lies or manipulation from 2019 to July 2024. The report quoted a professional who assessed him: “Ms Jameson agreed that in some of his answers [Rudakubana] may have been attempting to manipulate her, in particular in relation to the degree of remorse he felt about the attack.”
The lies, reported by The Sun, include retracting praise for the Manchester Arena bombing, denying intent to use a knife taken to school, claiming research on nunchucks was for a design class, and using a fake alias when booking taxis before the murders.
The 26 lies
The list spans from June 2019 to July 2024. Key examples:
- June 2019: Retracts praise for Manchester Arena bombing.
- December 2019: Denies intending to use a knife he took to school.
- January 2020: Lies that clicking a link to school shootings was random.
- January 2020: Claims nunchucks research was for design class.
- January 2020: Lies to counter-terror officers that his brother faked a disability.
- February 2020: Falsely claims to be remorseful over a school attack.
- August 2021: Fabricates physical abuse claims against his father.
- March 2022: Caught with a knife on a bus; claims he wanted police to seize his phone.
- April 2023: Uses stolen driving licence details to purchase machetes.
- July 2024: Uses father's details to order knives later used in the attack.
- July 2024: On the morning of the attack, deletes laptop's browser history.
Transfer to Broadmoor
Rudakubana, now 19, was sentenced to life for murdering Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine; Bebe King, six; and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and attempting to murder eight other children and two adults. He has been transferred from prison to Broadmoor psychiatric hospital, drawing criticism.
Chris Walker, representing three bereaved families, said his clients were given “the barest of details” and described the move as “another move by AR who would appear to be attempting, once again, to manipulate the system.”
Mark Fairhurst, chairman of the Prison Officers’ Association, said: “This vile offender has played the system and will now enjoy the freedoms that are afforded mentally unwell patients in secure psychiatric hospitals… My members will be placed at risk without the protections afforded to staff in prisons because he is now classed as a patient. He should spend his entire sentence in a prison in solitary confinement.”
The Ministry of Justice confirmed officials approved the transfer, but a spokesperson stressed it does not alter the killer's 52-year sentence.
