Sentence of UK teenager who killed three girls in Southport will not be reviewed

LONDON – Mr Richard Hermer, the Attorney-General for England and Wales, has rejected calls to request a court review of the length of a jail sentence imposed on the British teenager who killed three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance event in summer 2024.

Axel Rudakubana, 18,

admitted to killing the girls and stabbing 10 others

in July 2024 in the northern English town of Southport, an atrocity that shocked Britain and was followed by nationwide rioting. He was sentenced to at least 52 years behind bars in January.

Judge Julian Goose said he could not impose a full life sentence as Rudakubana was 17 when the attack took place, but he is unlikely ever to be released.

Mr Hermer said in a statement late on Feb 14 that his office received multiple requests to review the sentence under the unduly lenient sentence scheme, 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,” he said.

Mr Hermer added that Rudakubana’s sentence is the second-longest sentence imposed by the courts in English history and that he is likely to spend the rest of his life in jail.

“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,” he said. REUTERS