Southport households say killer's dad and mom 'should be held accountable'

The households of three ladies killed within the Southport assaults have condemned the killer's dad and mom for failing to take accountability and “remaining silent” regardless that they knew how harmful their son was.

Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, Babe King, six, and Alice da Silva Aguirre, 9, have been killed in a knife assault by Axel Rudacubana, then 17, in 2024.

The ladies' households stated the “extremely disturbing” proof from the killer's dad and mom on the Southport inquest confirmed that “this tragedy was not inevitable. It was the result of neglect”.

The killer's dad and mom apologized to the households on the listening to and stated they have been “deeply sorry” for his or her “failure”.

Elsie's dad and mom, Jenny and David Stancombe, stated they believed the killer's dad and mom, Alphonse Rudakubana and Letitia Muzayre, “should be held accountable for what they allowed to happen”.

“They knew how dangerous he was, yet they remained silent,” he stated.

“They failed not only as parents but also as members of our society.”

The killer's dad and mom “knew his behavior was escalating” within the months, weeks and days earlier than the assault, he stated, “and yet, they did nothing”.

He accused her of exhibiting “no real remorse or acknowledgment for the devastation caused by her son”.

Alex and Sergio Aguirre stated the system has failed their beloved Alice, Babe and Elsie.

“This tragedy was not inevitable,” he stated.

“It was the result of neglect – neglect by people who should have known better, and by a system that repeatedly ignored warning signs.

“The institutions and authorities whose role it is to protect children failed in their most essential functions and because of those failures, we have lost everything.”

Babe's dad and mom, Lauren and Ben King, stated: “What we're struggling to understand is that it's not fair [the killer’s parents’] Failure then, but now their failure – to admit, to take responsibility, to face what they allowed to happen.

“But it's not just about one family's actions.

“This is about the repeated failures of agencies and professionals who should have known better – who should have known better – and yet did nothing.”

The statements were made after Mr Rudakubana and Ms Muzayire gave evidence at a public inquiry into the killings.

The pair, who gave their evidence via videolink, which could be heard but not seen by the public and press, both apologized to the victims' families.

Ms Muzire, who moved to the UK from Rwanda with her husband in 2002, said her family came to the inquest with “broken hearts”.

“There aren’t any phrases which are ample to specific our sorrow and regret for these kids whose lives have been ended or eternally modified due to our son's actions,” he stated.

She stated there have been “many issues” that she and her husband wished they had done differently.

,[For] Our failure, we deeply regret,” he said.

During his second day of testimony, Mr Rudakubana said he was “extraordinarily sorry” for the families of the victims, and that he was “so embarrassed” that he “misplaced the braveness to avoid wasting our little angels”.

Nicholas Bowen Casey, representing the bereaved families, told him: “They utterly condemn your excuses and the best way you’ve answered the questions.”

Mr Bowen was then interrupted by inquiry chair Sir Adrian Fulford, who told him: “This just isn’t applicable in any respect.”

The girls' parents released their statements as soon as the first phase of the investigation ended. The second phase of the investigation is expected to focus on the risk posed by young people having an attachment or obsession with acts of extreme violence.

Rudakubana, 18, is serving a minimal sentence of 52 years for the murders.