Watch as Sophie Reaper describes the moment that Axel Rudakubana was removed from dock
Watch as Sophie Reaper describes the moment that Axel Rudakubana removed from docks
GB News
GB News reporter Sophie Reaper has described the dramatic scenes at Liverpool Crown Court today as murder defendant Axel Rudakubana was brought to the dock nearly an hour late and soon removed for shouting over the judge.
The outburst came during Rudakubana's sentencing for the murders of Bebe King, 6, Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, 9, who were killed during a Taylor Swift-themed dance class last July.
Speaking outside the Liverpool court, Reaper told Mark White: "We initially understood Rudakubana wouldn't be coming up to the dock today. That was something that we heard in court, and that was what we believed because there was such a delay.
"It was almost an hour past the point it should have started. However, then, much to I think many of our surprise he did end up being brought up to the dock and initially he put his head in his hands.
Sophie Reaper described the shocking moment
GB News
"He was in that grey prison tracksuit and the blue surgical mask but then all of a sudden he started to shout. He was very, very emotional.
"He was shouting that he was ill. He needed to see a paramedic. He then started shouting at the prosecution, do not continue, do not continue.
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"The defence then spoke to the judge directly and said that his client hadn't eaten for several days, had hardly had anything to drink, and that it was likely he was feeling the pressure too much.
"However, the judge ordered them to continue. But Rudakubana continued to shout at the judge to stop ignoring him, he needed to see a paramedic even though his chest was hurting.
"Eventually, the judge was forced to send him from the dock. It just proved all too much for the families.
"We heard Alice's father shout that he was a "coward" and many of the other families were visibly upset. Of course, they want to see justice."
Axel Rudakubana pleaded guilty to all 16 charges he faced in court on Monday CPSRudakubana admitted 16 charges, including the murder of Alice da Silva Aguiar, aged nine; Bebe King, six; and seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe on Monday.
He also admitted to the attempted murder of 10 people on the same day.
This includes eight children, who cannot be named for legal reasons, and two adults, Leanne Lucas and John Hayes.
Police found ricin and a file entitled "Military Studies in the Jihad against the Tyrants, the Al Qaeda training manual" at Rudakubana’s house in early August within days of the attack.
Axel Rudakubana is facing trial for three counts of murder and 10 counts of attempted murderPAHe was not charged with the production of a biological weapon, and possession of information likely to be useful for terrorism until 29 October 2024.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has defended his position on withholding information about the Southport killer.
He insisted he was following "the law of the land" to prevent the case against Rudakubana from collapsing.
"You know and I know that it would not have been right to disclose those details," Starmer told reporters.
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