The grieving parents of two schoolgirls murdered in a knife rampage last year criticized the courts for televising the sentencing of their killer, Axel Rudakubana. In their first interview since the attack, the parents of Bebe King and Elsie Dot Stancombe spoke of their hopes of finding 'light in the dark' and paid tribute to their daughters, who were murdered at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport.
The grieving parents of two school girls murdered in the Southport knife rampage last year spoke of their hopes of finding 'light in the dark' as they criticized the courts for televising the sentencing of killer Axel Rudakubana. In their first interview since the horrific attack, the parents of Bebe King and Elsie Dot Stancombe paid an emotional tribute to their children, with Elsie's mother Jenni declaring: 'It was an honour to be her mum.
' They decided to speak out so their daughters are remembered for their personalities and characters – and not by the televised sentencing remarks of the judge at Liverpool Crown Court, Mr Justice Goose, who graphically described their horrific injuries. 'We know it has to be heard in court but why did the whole nation need to see it on television?' Bebe's father, who cannot be named, told The Sunday Times. Rudakubana murdered Elsie, seven, Bebe, six, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport last July. Eight other girls and two adults, including Leanne Lucas, a home tutor who ran the two-hour class, were seriously injured during the horrifying 12-minute attack. Ms Lucas was Elsie's private tutor, giving her extra help reading and writing. Last month Rudakubana, 18, was jailed for a minimum of 52 years for murdering the three girls and the attempted murder of ten others, along with producing the poison ricin and possessing terrorist material and a knife. Paying tribute to her daughter, Bebe's mother, 41, said she was a natural performer with a love of musicals. Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, also died at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport last July. Last month Axel Rudakubana, 18, was jailed for a minimum of 52 years for murdering the three girls and the attempted murder of ten others, along with producing the poison ricin and possessing terrorist material and a knife. Jenni Stancombe, 35, last night described the appalling moment another mother phoned her to say 'somebody's stabbed the kids' at the dance class. 'It's a five minute drive from ours and we must have got there in a minute,' she said. 'We kept our hands on the horn, going faster and faster, jumping every red light on the road, we were on the other side of the road, people throwing their hands up to us. We got there and just deserted the car in the middle of the road and just ran.' Elsie's father, David, 36, added: 'No human being should ever have to witness what we witnessed on that day.' Ms Stancombe, a Sainsbury's store manager, said her daughter was 'one of a kind'. 'Sometimes I think people are born special, and I genuinely believe she was. Everything she did was pure enthusiasm.' Mr Stancombe recalled how his daughter would cycle alongside him as he ran to the nearby train station and revealed he has only recently found the strength to look at photographs of her again. The couple described how they received a 'really powerful' message of support when the Princess of Wales visited the families in Southport in October – her first public engagement since finishing chemotherapy. 'That meant so much to Jenni,' Mr Stancombe, a postman, said. 'Because it was her first public appearance. I won't say what they said to us, but what they shared with us was really, really powerful, and it was a powerful message and heartfelt, and it meant a lot.' The family criticized the courts for televising the sentencing of Rudakubana. A court artist's sketch of Axel Rudakubana, 18, at Liverpool Crown Court where he pleaded guilty to murdering three young girls in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class. People take part in a vigil near to the scene on Hart Street in Southport on July 30, 2024. Ms Stancombe had shared details of the dance class with around 50 parents on a WhatsApp group and the 23 places quickly sold out. Elsie initially appeared to have missed out on a place, but in a harrowing revelation, it has now emerged that Ms Lucas ensured a spot was reserved for her. Ms Stancombe said: 'I was like, 'oh no', I knew it had sold out, so I messaged Leanne saying, 'Aw, I totally forgot to pay for Elsie'. 'And she messaged saying, 'No problem. I'll always have a place for Elsie.' And she kept one. I just always think if she'd given it away… 'But then I would never have wished this on anybody else.' Bebe's mother was at a check-out in Marks & Spencer when her husband phoned from the scene of the attack. She immediately ran outside and jumped into a taxi
CRIME MURDER SENTENCING CHILDHOOD VICTIMS GRIEF JUSTICE TRIAL
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