FBI and US government officials join investigation into Southport killer

The FBI and US Justice Department have joined the UK police investigation into Southport killer Axel Rudakubana.

Rudakubana, 18, pleaded guilty to the murders of three young girls at a Taylor Swift dance class in July last year.

Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, were killed in the attack, while eight other children as well as class instructor Leanne Lucas and businessman John Hayes were also targeted.

The killer, who was 17 when he committed the murders, pleaded guilty in January and was sentenced to a minimum term of 52 years in prison.

A joint statement from Merseyside Police and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) revealed the investigation into Rudakubana was now international.

It said: ‘The Southport attack has devastated the lives of the victims, their families and the wider community.

‘A specialist liaison CPS Prosecutor in the United States has been working with international partners to obtain material which may be relevant.

‘We are thankful to the US Department of Justice and the FBI for their ongoing assistance and the importance which they have placed upon our request.’

According to reports, investigators believe they will soon be able to recover Rudakubana’s internet search history which had been deleted.

The judge in his case said it was ‘highly likely’ the killer will never be freed from prison, and he will be 70 years old before he can be considered for release.

Southport MP Patrick Hurley previously asked the Attorney General Lord Hermer to review the sentence, saying it is ‘not severe enough’.

As Rudakubana was under 18 at the time of the attack, he could not be given a whole life sentence.

But on Friday, Lord Hermer said: ‘After careful consideration of independent legal advice and consultation with leading criminal barristers and the Crown Prosecution Service, I have concluded that this case cannot properly be referred to the Court of Appeal.

‘No-one would want the families to be put through an unnecessary further court process where there is no realistic legal basis for an increased sentence.’

He added: ‘The 52-year sentence imposed by the judge was the second longest sentence imposed by the courts in English history.

‘Rudakubana will likely never be released and will spend the rest of his life in jail.’

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