A solicitor representing the families of children killed by Axel Rudakubana has expressed grave concerns that the Southport murderer is attempting "to retraumatise the families from his cell" as the second anniversary of the attack approaches.
Rudakubana, now aged 19, received a life sentence for the killings of Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, as well as the attempted murder of eight other children and two adults. Next Wednesday marks two years since he launched his attack on a Taylor Swift-themed dance class on 29 July 2024.
Earlier this week, the Ministry of Justice confirmed that Rudakubana has been moved from prison to the high-security psychiatric unit Broadmoor Hospital, though a departmental spokesperson stressed this does not alter the killer's 52-year sentence.
Solicitor voices concerns over timing
Chris Walker, who is acting on behalf of the three bereaved families, told BBC Breakfast: "It's a deep concern of mine that this is a pattern starting to develop by him trying to retraumatise the families from his cell, and it's a deep concern that this is going to occur every anniversary."
In May of last year, nearly 12 months after the atrocity, Rudakubana used a kettle in his cell at HMP Belmarsh to pour boiling water over a prison officer.
Mr Walker also highlighted that there was "no suggestion" that Rudakubana was experiencing any form of "psychosis" at the time he committed the murders.
Families left in the dark
The families were notified of the transfer decision by letter on 22 July, but were given no explanation as to why it had taken place. Mr Walker said: "With the vacuum of information, the concern is that he's manipulating the situation to his own benefit." He added: "For it to come out the week before the anniversary seems coincidental to us. Whether that's been poorly handled by the Government, or whether it's designed by him."
Sally Jameson, a junior housing minister and former prison officer, stated on Friday that Rudakubana would be returned to prison "as soon as possible", though she admitted she was unaware of the reasons behind the decision to transfer him.
The transfer to Broadmoor high security hospital from the category A prison Belmarsh was first revealed by The Guardian on Thursday. Prisoners who pose a heightened risk and cannot be safely managed within a prison setting due to mental health conditions may be relocated to secure psychiatric facilities. Those held in such units are treated as patients rather than inmates.
Families demand prison, not hospital
Mr Walker said: "When he did what he did, it was carefully planned, it was meticulous and it was designed to cause the maximum distress to society. There's no evidence of any mental health disorder being a component of his crime. There's no evidence of psychosis. The families say, given that, he needs to serve a prison sentence, he should not be going to hospital. He needs to be in prison."
Mr Walker confirmed that the letter contained an offer of a meeting with the Director for Public Protection, which he intends to attend on behalf of the bereaved families.
