A hero dance teacher who was left fighting for her life after bravely shielding her child pupils during the Southport knife attack joined the little victims’ families as their alleged killer appeared in court.
Rudakubana, accused of murdering schoolgirls Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class on July 29, was not asked to enter a plea during the short hearing at Liverpool Crown Court.
Leanne Lucas was one of 20 sat on the public benches as the 18-year-old appeared via video link from HMP Belmarsh in South East London. She is one of the two adults for whom the 18-year-old is also accused of attempted murder.
Ms Lucas, who was working as a dance teacher at the Hart Space, was critically injured after she leapt in to try to protect innocent youngsters.
One of the organisers of the holiday class, she underwent life-saving surgery in the hours after the rampage. The 35-year-old was quickly hailed a hero after reports she used her body as a shield to protect a number of children.
Leanne Lucas was one of 20 sat on the public benches as the 18-year-old appeared via video link from HMP Belmarsh in South East London
Southport suspect Axel Rudakubana, 18, seen on video link during an earlier court appearance
Left to right: Southport victims Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Alice da Silva Aguia
She was released from hospital before being readmitted later the same month. She underwent surgery before being released to continue her recovery. A fundraiser set up in her name has raised over £40,000 since the end of July.
Southport murder suspect Rudakubana is to face a single trial over the stabbings and more recent charges relating to the alleged discovery of ricin and an Al Qaeda manual at his home, a court ruled today.
The teenager is also accused of ten attempted murders – of two adults, dance teacher Leanne Lucas and businessman John Hayes, and eight more children – plus a further charge of possessing an offensive weapon, specified in court as a curved kitchen knife.
None of the injured children can be named for legal reasons.
Separately, Rudakubana appeared before Westminster Magistrates’ Court a fortnight ago on additional counts relating to the alleged discovery of ricin and an Al Qaeda manual at his family home, in Banks, Lancashire – a village five miles north of Southport.
During today’s 30-minute hearing at Liverpool Crown Court, Mr Justice Julian Goose ruled that both indictments should be joined together and Rudakubana face a single trial, to take place from January 20 and last four to six weeks.
Rudakubana (pictured), of Banks in Lancashire, is charged with the murders of Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, six-year-old Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven
The defendant, who watched by videolink from Belmarsh Prison, South East London, was twice asked to confirm his name but refused to reply and sat in his grey prison tracksuit with the sweatshirt pulled over his mouth and nose.
A prison officer confirmed he could hear proceedings and defence barrister Stan Reiz, KC, confirmed his identity.
Prosecutor Deanna Heer, KC, said: ‘He’s (Rudakubana) taken the same position at every opportunity.’
He will be asked to enter pleas during a further hearing on December 12.
Remanding Rudakubana in custody, Mr Justice Goose said: ‘You’re next required to attend on 12th December. It will again be in this court. In the meantime, keep in touch with your solicitors, your barristers, in preparation for the trial.’
Rudakubana’s last court appearance was on October 30 at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, to face charges relating to the alleged discovery of ricin and an Al Qaeda manual at his family home, in Banks, Lancashire – a village five miles north of Southport.
Members of the community blow bubbles as people gathered to mourn victims of the Southport knife attack by holding a vigil on August 5
The 18-year-old appeared at the hearing a fortnight ago, also via videolink from HMP Belmarsh, with his prison-issue sweatshirt over his mouth throughout the six-minute hearing and refused to speak when asked to confirm his identity.
Defence counsel Stan Reiz, KC, told Westminster Magistrates’ Court: ‘For reasons of his own, he has chosen not to answer questions.’
The court heard that Rudakubana faces the additional offences of production of a biological toxin, ricin, and possession of information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing to commit an act of terrorism.
Remanding Rudakubana into custody at the October 30 hearing, chief magistrate Paul Goldspring told him: ‘You will appear before Mr Justice Goose at Liverpool Crown Court in relation to these matters.’
Ms Heer, KC, prosecuting, said Rudakubana should be kept on remand ‘for fear of further offending and, frankly, for his own protection’.
The three girls who died had been attending the summer holiday club at the Hart Space Community Centre in Southport. Bebe and Elsie died on the day while Alice died in hospital the day after.
Rudakubana (pictured) was born in Cardiff to Rwandan parents and moved to the Southport area in 2013. He was living in Banks, Lancashire, at the time of the attacks
The day after the attack, thousands turned out for a peaceful vigil but a separate protest later erupted into violence outside a mosque in the town.
In the following week, protests and rioting took place in dozens of towns and cities across the UK, fuelled by misinformation on social media, with asylum centre hotels targeted.
Over 1,000 people have been arrested and hundreds sentenced.