Southport knife killer’s term not unduly lenient’

Southport killer Axel Rudakubana’s sentence was not unduly lenient and will not be referred to the Court of Appeal, the attorney general has said.

- ANDY GREGORY ROSIE SHEAD

Rudakubana was jailed for a minimum of 52 years in January, after murdering three young girls and attempting to murder 10 others in a knife rampage at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class last July, when he was aged 17.

While the sentence was one of the highest minimum custody terms on record, it sparked criticism from some MPs and a parent whose child survived the attack.

But following multiple requests for the sentence to be reviewed, attorney general Lord Hermer KC responded last night that he would not be referring the case to the Court of Appeal.

In his statement, Lord Hermer said: “The senseless and barbaric murder of three young girls in Southport last summer shocked our nation. No words come anywhere close to expressing the brutality and horror in this case.

“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.

“After careful consideration of independent legal advice and consultation with leading criminal barristers and the Crown Prosecution Service, I have concluded that this case cannot properly be referred to the Court of Appeal.

“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.

"The 52-year sentence imposed by the judge was the second longest sentence imposed by the courts in English history.