He cowered in his cell as final insult to brave families of innocent girls

THE screams of terrified children fleeing Axel Rudakubana's knife, captured on video, will remain with me forever.

- Chris Riches

Their loved ones came to Liverpool Crown Court to see justice for them with their own eyes.

But the Southport killer spent most of the sentencing hearing cowering in his cell, pathetically thinking only of his own health.

Alice da Silva Aguiar's parents sat opposite the glass-panelled dock, desperate to stare into the eyes of the killer of their beautiful nine-year-old daughter.

But Rudakubana - who'd been so quick to express how "glad" he was at his evil handiwork - robbed them of the satisfaction of seeing him pay for his heinous crimes by getting himself sent out of the room.

It was yet another insult for the narcissistic brute's already shattered victims.

The families started the day waiting quietly and with dignity in Court-room 5.4 for the 11am sentencing to begin.

Only Alice's parents felt able to confront him face-to-face. Elsie Dot Stancombe and Bebe King's sat to the side.