The teenager who fatally stabbed three girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in the U.K. in July 2024 was sentenced to more than 50 years in prison Thursday, Jan. 24. Judge Julian Goose said he could not impose a sentence of life without parole because the convicted killer, 18-year-old Alex Rudakubana, was only 17 at the time.
Rudakubana admitted to killing the three girls and stabbing 10 others in the English town of Southport. Authorities identified the victims as Bebe King, 6; Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7; and Alice da Silva Aguiar, 9.
The judge said Rudakubana must serve 52 years, minus the six months he’s been in custody, before considering parole.
“It is likely he will never be released,” Goose added.
Killer obsessed with violence, genocide: Prosecution
Prosecutor Deanna Heer told Liverpool Crown Court that Rudakubana has an obsession with violence and genocide. Heer said the attack on two of the girls was “difficult to explain as anything other than sadistic in nature.”
The courtroom, including victims’ families, saw video footage of the attack. The incident happened 15 minutes before the end of class.
After the killing, Rudakubana told police, “I’m glad those kids are dead, it makes me happy.”
Potential al-Qaida influence: Police
Police believe an al-Qaida training manual Rudakubana admitted to possessing may have inspired the stabbing attack. He also admitted to producing the deadly poison ricin.
“Had he been able to, he would have killed each and every one of them – all 26 of them – as well as any adult who got in his way,” Goose said.
False reports that the British native came to the country illegally influenced anti-immigrant mobs to take to the streets over the summer. In December, a government report found police were too slow to respond to the riots.
