Southport killer Axel Rudakubana 52-year jail term to be reviewed as families share pain and anger: latest

Southport killer Axel Rudakubana’s 52-year jail term is set to be reviewed after concerns were raised it was unduly lenient.

The 18-year-old was jailed for life after murdering three young girls and stabbing several others in an act of “extreme violence” at a Taylor Swift themed dance class.

He was sentenced in absence after failing to return to the dock, and will now spend decades behind bars for “the most extreme, shocking and exceptionally serious crime”.

Rudakubana avoided a whole life tariff – which would ensure he could never leave prison – because he was nine days shy of being 18 when he committed the atrocity.

Southport’s Labour MP Patrick Hurley has now asked the Attorney General to review the sentence as “unduly lenient”.

Attorney General Lord Hermer and Solicitor General Lucy Rigby now have 28 days to decide whether to refer the sentence to the Court of Appeal.

Reform called for Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Parkinson to resign. Party leader Nigel Farage said: “The judge made clear in his sentencing that Alex Rudakubana had a detailed interest in genocides and massacres, and that he was in possession of an al Qaida manual.

“This barbaric and senseless attack was clearly both political and ideological. Many crimes of much less severity have been declared as terrorism within 24 hours of the incident taking place.

“The British public needs to have confidence in the CPS and our police forces. Tens of millions of British citizens will find it incomprehensible how the CPS decided this was a non-terror incident and maintained that position.

“Those in positions of power have to be accountable and responsible for their actions. Stephen Parkinson, the Director of Public Prosecutions at CPS, should now do the right thing and resign for CPS’ negligence in this case.”

The Southport killer’s record-high 52-year sentence will be reviewed amid criticism it was not long enough after mounting calls for law changes to see child criminals like him die in jail.

Axel Rudakubana was handed one of the highest minimum custody terms on record after carrying out the sadistic attack at a Taylor Swift-themed class in July aged 17.

Southport’s Labour MP Patrick Hurley said the sentence was “not severe enough” and he had asked the Attorney General to review the sentence as “unduly lenient”, adding: “We need a sentence that represents the severity of this crime that has terrorised the victims and their families.”

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, who was backed by shadow home secretary Chris Philp in her calls, said there was a “strong case” for amending the law to allow for whole life orders to be imposed on people aged under 18 in some cases, which the Conservatives “will start to explore”.

Reform UK MP Richard Tice has called for a debate on the death penalty after Southport killer was jailed for 52 years for murdering three girls aged between six and nine.

Mr Tice said:“I don’t think we should be afraid of having a national debate on important big issues like this. I think that many people in the country would like at least a debate.”

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “The thoughts of the entire nation are with the families and everyone affected by the unimaginable horrors that unfolded in Southport. No words will ever be able to capture the depth of their pain.

“I want to say directly to the survivors, families and community of Southport – you are not alone. We stand with you in your grief.

“What happened in Southport was an atrocity and as the judge has stated, this vile offender will likely never be released.

“After one of the most harrowing moments in our country’s history we owe it to these innocent young girls and all those affected to deliver the change that they deserve.”

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said there was a “strong case” for amending the law to allow for whole-life orders to be imposed on people aged under 18 in some cases, which “Conservatives will start to explore”.

In a post on X, she said: “Axel Rudakubana should never be released from prison. His age means he has not been given a whole-life sentence, despite the countless lives he destroyed on that dreadful day, and the legacy of mistrust he has sown across the country.

“There is a strong case here for amending the law to give clear judicial discretion to award whole-life sentences to under 18s, which Conservatives will start to explore.

“My heart goes out to the victims and their families. None of us can imagine your pain and we owe you justice.”

She added that while the Government’s announcement of an inquiry was welcome it “falls short of what is needed” and insisted it was “absurd that we are debating online knife sales more than we are integration and how we safeguard our society from extreme ideologies and violence”.

The Conservatives will “challenge the Prime Minister on the task he has to ensure that those we welcome into Britain share our values, contribute positively to our society, and how we make sure this continues through multiple generations,” Ms Badenoch said.

“Keir Starmer’s statement on Monday was disappointing. He sidestepped the core issues, focusing instead on legal definitions of terrorism. By avoiding these hard truths he inadvertently politicises our response to this tragedy.”