Axel Rudakubana disrupted court proceedings multiple times during his sentencing - repeatedly claiming to the judge he was too unwell

Shouting ‘I’m ill’ at the top of his voice, Southport child killer Axel Rudakubana seemed desperate to do anything to avoid being in court to be sent down for the brutal murders of three young girls.

The 18-year-old, who inflicted countless knife wounds on his victims – as well as eight other children and two adults who survived – was branded a ‘coward’ by their families as he was taken from the dock dramatically complaining of chest pains.

Rudakubana, who had been referred to terror scheme Prevent three times before he struck on July 29, tried twice to avoid being sentenced for the killings of Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and nine-year-old Alice da Silva Aguiar.

After being removed for a second time, he refused to re-enter. Lawyers acting for the triple-killer told the court: ‘The defendant does not want to re-enter the room and if he is forced he will be disruptive.’

He has been sentenced to life in prison, for a minimum of 52 years. Lord Justice Goose, sentencing, remarked that he was unlikely to ever be released.

Axel Rudakubana’s childish defiance and refusal to show any remorse in front of the loved ones of his victims puts him in the unenviable and unforgivable company of other killers including Lucy Letby, Thomas Cashman and Jordan McSweeney.

They, and several others in recent years, have refused to appear in the dock to hear their sentences after being convicted.

Their indignance has prompted furious calls for a change in the law to ensure criminals who commit the most serious crimes are seen to properly face justice.

The Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, has promised to uphold a Tory pledge to give judges more powers that would allow them to compel criminals to attend their sentencing hearings.

Axel Rudakubana disrupted court proceedings multiple times during his sentencing - repeatedly claiming to the judge he was too unwell

Axel Rudakubana disrupted court proceedings multiple times during his sentencing – repeatedly claiming to the judge he was too unwell

His refusal to behave during his sentencing hearing puts him in the same category of unapologetic criminals as Lucy Letby - who refused outright to leave her cell for sentencing

His refusal to behave during his sentencing hearing puts him in the same category of unapologetic criminals as Lucy Letby – who refused outright to leave her cell for sentencing

Gunman Thomas Cashman likewise refused to leave his prison cell after being convicted of murdering nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel

Gunman Thomas Cashman likewise refused to leave his prison cell after being convicted of murdering nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel

In August 2023, neonatal nurse Lucy Letby refused to appear in court or via videolink to be sentenced for what was then the murder of seven babies and the attempted murders of another six.

She sat in the cells of Manchester Crown Court as bereaved families delivered tearful victim statements above her, and as Mr Justice Goss handed her a whole life order with no chance of parole.

Four months before, Liverpool gunman Thomas Cashman refused to appear in court to be sentenced for the murder of Olivia Pratt-Korbel, who was shot in the chest as he pursued a drug dealer in August 2022.

Cashman, who also injured her mother Cheryl, refused to appear in court for his sentencing and was jailed for at least 42 years in his absence.

He stayed in the cells – claiming he had been provoked by court officials. 

Ms Korbel later said she wanted Cashman to have appeared in court ‘to understand the pain he’s caused’ – but believed he did not attend because ‘he’s a coward’.

Among the others who have refused to face justice are some of the most violent murderers of recent times – including killers who preyed on women to satisfy their twisted sexual desires.

In December 2022, Jordan McSweeney, a violent criminal with a mile-long list of previous convictions, sexually assaulted and strangled Zara Aleena six months before as she walked home in Ilford, East London.

McSweeney, who should have been in prison at the time of the killing but had not been arrested after his licence was revoked, was described by the judge as having ‘no spine whatsoever’ after he refused to leave prison to appear before the court.

His lawyers told the trial he could not face watching CCTV footage of him beginning the attack. The court heard he had inflicted 46 separate injuries on Ms Aleena, including severe blunt-force trauma to her head.

Olivia Pratt-Korbel was shot in the chest by Thomas Cashman as he pursued a drug dealer

Olivia Pratt-Korbel was shot in the chest by Thomas Cashman as he pursued a drug dealer

Cheryl Korbel has campaigned for criminals to be required to attend their sentencing hearings after Cashman refused to show face (pictured with Sir Keir Starmer in August 2023)

Cheryl Korbel has campaigned for criminals to be required to attend their sentencing hearings after Cashman refused to show face (pictured with Sir Keir Starmer in August 2023)

Sexual predator Jordan McSweeney hid away as he was sentenced to life imprisonment for a minimum of 38 years (reduced to 33 on appeal) for the June 2022 murder and sexual assault of Zara Aleena

Sexual predator Jordan McSweeney hid away as he was sentenced to life imprisonment for a minimum of 38 years (reduced to 33 on appeal) for the June 2022 murder and sexual assault of Zara Aleena

Zara Aleena. A judge said McSweeney's refusal to appear in court for her murder suggested he had 'no spine whatsoever'

Zara Aleena. A judge said McSweeney’s refusal to appear in court for her murder suggested he had ‘no spine whatsoever’ 

Ms Alenna’s aunt, Farah Naz, later said his refusal to attend was a ‘slap in the face’ for his victim’s family.

She told BBC Breakfast programme: ‘My mother and myself, Zara’s grandmother, made victim impact statements. We wanted him to hear that. 

‘Human to human, we wanted him to know the impact that he, his actions, his atrocious, horrendous, horrific actions have left, the mark that he’s left on us, that he’s completely destroyed us as a family and we have years and years of finding a way through accepting what’s happened.’ 

McSweeney was ultimately locked up for at least 38 years, reduced to 33 on appeal.

But last year, he refused to appear in court for a second time, this time for a trial over an alleged inappropriate relationship with a prison workshop officer. The court heard he told prison officers he didn’t want to go because he ‘couldn’t be bothered’.

Charges were later dropped after the officer, Hayley Jones, pleaded guilty to misconduct in a public office. She will be sentenced next month.

In April 2022, Koci Selamaj was sentenced to life imprisonment for a minimum of 36 years after he snatched Sabina Nessa off the street as she walked home, in a sexually motivated attack.

The killer, who had a history of domestic, savagely beat primary school teacher Ms Nessa before asphyxiating her and dumping her body in a park in south-east London, covering it with leaves.

Selamaj had been, the court heard, determined to have ‘some kind of sexual encounter that evening’ after trying to contact his ex-wife for sex in Eastbourne before he travelled to the capital.

Primary school teacher Sabina Nessa was murdered in September 2021 by Koci Selamaj, who carried out the sexually motivated killing after being refused sex by his ex-wife

Primary school teacher Sabina Nessa was murdered in September 2021 by Koci Selamaj, who carried out the sexually motivated killing after being refused sex by his ex-wife

Selamaj refused to attend court to be sentenced to at least 36 years in prison. Ms Nessa's family branded him a 'coward'

Selamaj refused to attend court to be sentenced to at least 36 years in prison. Ms Nessa’s family branded him a ‘coward’

Koci Selamaj seen on CCTV. A judge said of his refusal to show face: 'However cowardly those refusals may be, I have no power to force him to attend'

Koci Selamaj seen on CCTV. A judge said of his refusal to show face: ‘However cowardly those refusals may be, I have no power to force him to attend’

Members of Sabina Nessa's family outside court after Koci Selamaj was sentenced to at least 36 years behind bars. They labelled him a 'coward' in his absence after he refused to attend

Members of Sabina Nessa’s family outside court after Koci Selamaj was sentenced to at least 36 years behind bars. They labelled him a ‘coward’ in his absence after he refused to attend

Zahid Younis, who killed two women sometime between 2016 and 2020, refused to leave his holding cell after being found guilty of their murders

Zahid Younis, who killed two women sometime between 2016 and 2020, refused to leave his holding cell after being found guilty of their murders

Mihrican Mustafa

Henriett Szucs

He killed Mihrican Mustafa (left) and Henriett Szucs (right) before hiding their bodies in a freezer at his flat

Members of Ms Mustafa's family outside court after he was jailed for life. The judge who sentenced him criticised his decision to sit in his holding cell

Members of Ms Mustafa’s family outside court after he was jailed for life. The judge who sentenced him criticised his decision to sit in his holding cell

The killer heard none of this in person, having refused to attend the court. Ms Nessa’s family branded him a ‘disgusting animal’ and a ‘coward’ in his absence.

Mr Justice Sweeney, sentencing, said of Selamaj’s feeble refusal to face justice: ‘However cowardly those refusals may be, I have no power to force him to attend.’

And in September 2020, Zahid Younis was jailed for at least 38 years after killing two women, Henriett Szucs and Mihrican Mustafa, before hiding their bodies in a freezer.

Younis, a convicted sex criminal with a history of violence, subjected both women to ‘very significant violence’ – and refused to leave his cell after being found guilty.

‘It will surprise no one in this courtroom that the defendant has declined to attend his sentence,’ said Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb. 

‘He sits in the cells below but I will address these remarks to him so that when he has the courage to read them he will know exactly why the court reached the conclusions that it did.’

In September 2022, the Crown Prosecution Service published guidance on how to deal with defendants’ refusals to attend court. 

For trials in Crown Courts – for the most serious offences – it recommends proceeding with trials only if the defendant has ‘waived the right to attend’ and that it will be fair despite their absence, ideally with a lawyer representing them in their stead.

For sentencing, the current guidelines state that courts should only proceed as long as the defendant has a legal representative, or has previously been jailed.

But this could be replaced with a mandatory compulsion for criminals to attend court to learn their fate, according to the Prime Minister. 

A court sketch of Axel Rudakubana depicting the moment he began complaining to the judge that he was feeling unwell. He has since been jailed for at least 52 years for murdering three children and attempting to kill eight others, as well as two adults

A court sketch of Axel Rudakubana depicting the moment he began complaining to the judge that he was feeling unwell. He has since been jailed for at least 52 years for murdering three children and attempting to kill eight others, as well as two adults

Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, was one of the three children killed in the knife attack in Southport

And undated family handout file photo issued by Merseyside Police of Ben, Lauren, Bebe, aged six and Genie King (bottom right), aged nine. Bebe died during the attack at The Hart Space

And undated family handout file photo issued by Merseyside Police of Ben, Lauren, Bebe, aged six and Genie King (bottom right), aged nine. Bebe died during the attack at The Hart Space 

Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, was among the three little girls killed in the attack in Southport

Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, was among the three little girls killed in the attack in Southport 

After meeting with Cheryl Korbel to discuss the issue this week, Sir Keir Starmer said his Government would ‘legislate on this at the first chance’.

Sir Keir, who previously met with Ms Korbel as Leader of the Opposition, told her: ‘It’s really important to meet today because we met 17 months ago and I said two things: we will support the previous government on this, and if we get into power, we’ll make sure this happens.

‘That’s the promise I made to you and it’s a promise I’m going to keep, and that’s why this is forthcoming legislation is so important.

‘We have put this in the first King’s Speech so we will legislate on this at the first chance and we should have it before the summer.’

But, Ms Korbel suggested to ITV News she was not yet hopeful that the law change will be made after meeting the Prime Minister.

‘I am not going to my hopes up too high now, because we have already been knocked down once,’ she told the broadcaster.

Axel Rudakubana’s day in court was complicated by the child killer’s claims he was too unwell to stand in the dock.

Prior to being taken to court to face the judge, Rudakubana was rushed to hospital directly from prison after reportedly requiring unspecified ‘medical attention’, a report denied by police.

But the teen child killer continued causing a scene, seemingly in an attempt to avoid facing justice, as he appeared in the dock of Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday.

Dressed in a grey prison-issue tracksuit and a blue face mask, Rudakubana shouted: ‘I feel ill. I need to speak to a paramedic, I feel ill. You’re not giving me any support, judge. I feel ill.’

Mr Justice Goose told the teenager: ‘Shouting from the dock is not going to make this happen any quicker. If you remain quiet you will be able to see someone.’

After the 18-year-old replied: ‘I’m not going to remain quiet I am in pain,’ Mr Justice Goose said back: ‘You’ve chosen this moment to say this. These proceedings are being conducted under my control Mr Rudakubana – do you understand? Not yours.’

Mr Justice Goose ordered the murderer out of court. A family member shouted ‘coward’ at him as he was led away.

The judge – a High Court veteran of seven years – was clear he would not tolerate Rudakubana’s insubordination.

‘I understand the defendant has actually been seen again and found to be fit, physically, to come into court,’ he said after proceedings resumed.

‘For the moment, he continues to indicate that were he to do so he would disrupt proceedings.

‘If they do I’ll remove him but I will want him to come into court at the point of sentence.’

But Rudakubana refused to keep quiet upon his return, shouting again: ‘I really feel ill, I need to be seen by a paramedic.’

The judge then sent him out for a second time. The court heard the teen had been seen by paramedics and had been certified ‘fit’ to attend his sentencing.

However, lawyers for the killer said he was refusing to return to court and would be ‘disruptive’ if he was forced to do so.

Absent from the court room, the twisted teenager was ultimately handed 13 life sentences, a 12 year sentence for producing the poison ricin, and 18 month sentences for possession of a knife and an Al Qaeda manual. 

Sentencing Rudakubana this afternoon, Mr Justice Goose said: ‘Many will describe what he did as evil. Who could dispute it? In any view, this was the most extreme, shocking and serious crime.

‘I’m satisfied that had he been able to, he would have killed each and every child, all 26 of them and any adults who got in the way. It’s only because some managed to escape that prevented many more from being murdered.’

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