The UK Attorney General, Lord Hermer KC, has announced that Axel Rudakubana’s life sentence for the brutal murders of three young girls in Southport will not be referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.
In a statement released on the UK Government’s website on Friday, Lord Hermer acknowledged the “senseless and barbaric” nature of the attack, which shocked the nation last summer.
However, after reviewing independent legal advice and consulting top criminal barristers, he concluded that there was no “realistic legal basis” to challenge the sentence.
“It was understandable that we received multiple requests to review the sentence under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme – which is designed to identify and remedy gross errors made by judges,” Lord Hermer said.
“No words come anywhere close to expressing the brutality and horror in this case.”
Rudakubana, who was 17 at the time of the attack, was sentenced on January 23 to 13 life terms for three murders and 10 attempted murders.
Judge Julian Goose, in his ruling, said it was “highly likely that he will never be released,” imposing a minimum term of 52 years—one of the longest sentences in English legal history.
Crime That Stunned the Nation
The harrowing case unfolded last July when Rudakubana launched a 15-minute stabbing spree at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, northwestern England.
Sobs and gasps filled the courtroom as prosecutor Deanna Heer described how he burst into the studio, where young girls were making bracelets while listening to Swift’s music.
His victims—Bebe, Elsie, and Alice—were killed in what the judge called an “objective of mass murder.” Ten others were severely injured before he was stopped.
Upon his arrest, Rudakubana was heard saying, “I’m glad they’re dead,” according to the prosecution.
During sentencing, Judge Goose stated that had he not been stopped, “he would have killed each and every child—all 26 of them—as well as any adult who got in his way.”
Legal and Public Reactions
Public outrage over the killings led to widespread calls for an even harsher punishment.
However, Lord Hermer emphasised that the legal threshold for increasing a sentence had not been met.
“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 stated.
“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.”
He reassured the public that the government would take “the next steps” to ensure that these murders mark a turning point in tackling violent crime.
“My thoughts today are with the friends and families of Bebe, Elsie, and Alice, as well as the other victims – your memories will not be forgotten,” the AG concluded.
While the Attorney General’s decision closes the door on an appeal, the case remains a haunting reminder of the devastating consequences of unchecked violence.
